An ultrathin Zn-based layered double hydroxides augment degradation of mutant p53 to improve tumor therapy

Tumor protein 53 (Tp53), a key regulator of suppressor genes, is commonly mutated in numerous malignant diseases. Consequently, elimination mutant protein 53 (mutp53) represents an appealing strategy for treating mutp53-related tumors. However, the treatment of these mutations remained challenging due to its formidable limitations. In this study, by loading glucose oxidase (GOX) into Zn-based layered double hydroxides (Zn-LDH) interlayer, a pH-responsive ultrathin nanotherapeutic platform (Zn-LDH@GOX) was created to suppress tumors growth by degrading mutp53. Upon exposure to the acidic environment of lysosomes, the lattice structure of ZnLDH@GOX was partially disrupted, leading to the release of Zn2+ ions and GOX into the cytoplasm. The increased intracellular concentration of Zn2+ facilitated the restoration of wild-type protein 53 (wtp53) conformation, which in turn degraded mutp53 through activated autophagic pathways. Meanwhile, GOXinduced Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) disruption resulted in the liberation of mutp53 from the HSP90/ mutp53 complex and reactivated its degradation via the ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the significant suppression of mutp53 expression and inhibition of tumor growth by Zn-LDH@GOX. Our work offers a novel pH-responsive nanotherapeutic platform with immense potential for mutp53 tumor-specific therapy.