Toward supramolecular nanozymes for the photocatalytic activation of Pt() anticancer prodrugs

A supramolecular nanozyme for the photocatalytic conversion of a Pt( iv ) anticancer complex to cisplatin is described herein. We employed 1.9 nm Au nanoparticles decorated with thiol ligands bearing a TACN (1,4,7-triazacyclononane) headgroup to encapsulate FMN (riboflavin-5′-phosphate). In the presence of an electron donor, flavin-loaded nanoparticles photocatalyzed the reductive activation of the prodrug cis , cis , trans -[Pt(NH 3 ) 2 (Cl 2 )(O 2 CCH 2 CH 2 COOH) 2 ] to cisplatin, achieving turnover frequency values of 7.4 min −1 . Nanozymes based on TACN AuNPs and FMN photocatalyze the activation of a Pt( iv ) prodrug into cisplatin.