New High-Precision Copper Nanozyme Developed by Chinese Scientists Achieves Superior Tumor Suppression Through Advanced Atomic Engineering

New Cu-N2 single-atom nanozyme developed in China produces cancer-killing radicals 3.6 times faster than previous models for targeted therapy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 8:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Engineering Atomic Precision for Enhanced Oncology Treatments

The treatment of malignant tumors continues to be a primary challenge for modern medicine due to the difficulty of achieving high precision while minimizing systemic side effects. To address these limitations, a research team led by Professor Wang Hui from the High Magnetic Field Laboratory has developed a novel copper single-atom nanozyme. This carbon dot-supported tool is designed to respond specifically to the unique conditions found within a tumor microenvironment. By focusing on the coordination environment of the metal center, the researchers have created a catalytic therapy that acts with surgical precision, targeting only the malignant cells while sparing healthy tissue.

Breaking Barriers in Nanozyme Synthesis and Substrate Adsorption

Copper-based single-atom nanozymes have long been viewed as promising candidates for responsive therapy, yet their practical use has been hampered by technical obstacles. Historically, these tools suffered from weak substrate adsorption and the extreme difficulty of synthesizing stable, low-coordination unsaturated structures. The team, including experts from the University of Macau and the University of Science and Technology of China, overcame these hurdles by proposing a ligand chelation conformation strategy. Using EDTA and copper chloride as precursors, they employed a one-step hydrothermal method to create a coordinatively unsaturated Cu-N2 configuration, which offers superior functionality compared to conventional saturated versions.

The Role of Magnetic Field Facilities in Structural Analysis

To understand why this new configuration outperformed previous models, the researchers utilized the specialized electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer at the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility. This allowed them to monitor the in situ generation of hydroxyl radicals, which are the primary agents responsible for destroying cancer cells. The team identified a critical structure-activity relationship: the unsaturated Cu-N2 setup induces a high-spin, electron-rich state at the metal center. This specific atomic arrangement shifts the d-band center upward, providing a massive boost to the efficiency of electron transfer during the therapeutic process.