Wang, JinghanGao, ShanqingWang, XiaoZhang, HaozhenRen, XitongLiu, JuewenBai, Feng2025-09-232025-09-232021-09-29https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3854-510.1007/s12274-021-3854-5https://hdl.handle.net/10012/22539This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Nano Research. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3854-5The use of functional nanoparticles as peroxidase-like (POD-like) catalyst has recently become a focus of research in cancer therapy. Phthalocyanine is a macrocyclic conjugated metal ligand, which is expected to achieve a high POD-like catalytic activity, generating free radicals and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In this paper, we synthesized phthalocyanine nanocrystals with different structures through noncovalent self-assembly confined within micro-emulsion droplets, and manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) possessing a metal-N-C active center was used as the building block. These nano-assemblies exhibit shape-dependent POD-like catalytic activities, because the emulsifier and MnPc co-mixed assembly reduced the close packing between MnPc molecules and exposed more active sites. The assembly had a water-dispersed nanostructure, which is conducive to accumulation at tumor sites through the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). Because of a highly efficient microenvironmental response, the assembly showed higher catalytic activity only emerged under the acidic tumor-like microenvironment, but caused less damage to normal tissues in biomedical applications. In vivo and in vitro catalytic therapy tests showed excellent anti-tumor effects. This work explored a new way for the application of metal-organic macromolecules such as MnPc as nanozymes for catalytic tumor therapy.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canadahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca/Article