Recent advances in discrete Cu complexes for enhanced chemodynamic therapy

Since the concept of metal ion stimulation-mediated chemodynamic therapy was proposed by Bu and Shi 's group in 2016, increasing attention has been directed toward fabricate efficient, safe and stable Fenton/Fenton-like catalysts to advance the clinical translation. In particular, metal-based complexes with inherent metal catalytic center have received extensive attention as potential alternatives/complements for traditional CDT agents. Among them, copper-based complexes, which possess excellent redox properties, extensive adaptability and abundant availability, enabling them to efficiently generate ROS through Fenton-like reactions in CDT, thereby causing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA in cancer cells. In this brief review, we summarized the recent progress of various discrete copper-based metal complexes aimed at enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of CDT as well as their application in combination therapy. We hope that this review will attract active attention to metal complexes in advancing more accurate and efficient chemodynamic therapy, and encourage further in-depth research to facilitate clinical translation.