Tumor microenvironment responsive FePt/MoS2 nanocomposites with chemotherapy and photothermal therapy for enhancing cancer immunotherapy

Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposites for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapeutics: Biosensors, Bioimaging, and Phototherapy

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanomaterials have attracted significant interest in cancer diagnosis and therapy due to their unique physicochemical properties. Due to its extensive surface area and adaptable structure, MoS₂ may engage with pharmaceuticals and biomolecules via covalent and non-covalent interactions. This versatility enhances the sensitivity of identifying specific biomarkers, colloidal stability, and tumor-targeting capabilities. In the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, MoS₂ exhibits strong optical absorption and efficient photothermal conversion, making it suitable for NIR-driven phototherapy and regulated medication release. Functionalized MoS₂ nanocomposites react differently to the tumor microenvironment, which improves treatment effectiveness by increasing drug accumulation at cancer sites and decreasing off-target effects on healthy tissues. Recent developments in MoS₂-based nanocomposites for cancer detection and treatment are reviewed in this study, with particular attention paid to their uses in photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, biosensing, and bioimaging. Additionally, it looks at the difficulties and potential applications of MoS₂ nanocomposites in cancer.

Nanomaterial-Triggered Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis in Cancer Therapy

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of the death of individuals globally. Conventional treatment techniques like chemotherapy and radiation often suffer various drawbacks like toxicity and drug resistance. The study of cell death has been predominantly focused on classical forms like apoptosis, but the role of metal ions in governing controlled cell death is a fascinating and less explored area. Metal-mediated controlled cell death is a process where metal triggers cell death via a unique mechanism. Nanomaterial-based strategies have gained attention for their ability to deliver precise therapeutic agents while also triggering Regulated Cell Death (RCD) mechanisms in cancer cells. The recently discovered metal-mediated controlled cell death techniques like cuproptosis and ferroptosis can be used in cancer treatment as they can be used selectively for the treatment of drug-resistant cancer. Nano material-based delivery system can also be used for the precise delivery of the drug to the targeted sites. In this review, we have given some idea about the mechanism of metal-mediated controlled cell death techniques (ferroptosis and cuproptosis) and how we can initiate controlled cell deaths using nanomaterials for cancer treatment.

Chemical Design of Magnetic Nanomaterials for Imaging and Ferroptosis-Based Cancer Therapy

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulatory cell death, has garnered significant interest as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment due to its distinct characteristics, including lipid peroxide generation and redox imbalance. However, its clinical application in oncology is currently limited by issues such as suboptimal efficacy and potential off-target effects. The advent of nanotechnology has provided a new way for overcoming these challenges through the development of activatable magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). These innovative MNPs are designed to improve the specificity and efficacy of ferroptosis induction. This Review delves into the chemical and biological principles guiding the design of MNPs for ferroptosis-based cancer therapies and imaging-guided therapies. It discusses the regulatory mechanisms and biological attributes of ferroptosis, the chemical composition of MNPs, their mechanism of action as ferroptosis inducers, and their integration with advanced imaging techniques for therapeutic monitoring. Additionally, we examine the convergence of ferroptosis with other therapeutic strategies, including chemodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy, within the context of nanomedicine strategies utilizing MNPs. This Review highlights the potential of these multifunctional MNPs to surpass the limitations of conventional treatments, envisioning a future of drug-resistance-free, precision diagnostics and ferroptosis-based therapies for treating recalcitrant cancers.

Versatile Nanomaterials That Interfere with Ferroptosis in the Tumor Microenvironment

Ferroptosis is a type of iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by a depletion of glutathione. Although generally less harmful to normal cells, in tumor cells, the high demand for iron ions provides conditions conducive to ferroptosis. In this review, we provide an overview of recent progress in research on the regulation of ferroptosis in tumor cells, summarizing and assessing the current state, trends, and applications of nanomaterials in the regulation of ferroptosis in tumor cells. Given the advantages of nanomaterials in terms of targeting, safety, improved drug efficacy, and reduced side effects, these materials are considered to have potential therapeutic value in modulating ferroptosis in tumor cells via different mechanisms. In this respect, we describe methods for modifying the regulation of iron ions and interfering with glutathione activity and lipid peroxidation. The development of nanomaterials that can be applied to induce or inhibit ferroptosis is anticipated to provide new therapeutic options for the treatment of a diverse range of diseases.

Exploring the application of metal-based photothermal agents in photothermal therapy combined with immune checkpoint therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT), a popular local treatment that uses heat to ablate tumors, has limited efficacy in addressing metastatic and deeply located tumors when used alone. Integrating PTT with immunotherapy not only yields a synergistic effect but also promotes cancer regression and confers the benefit of immune memory, which can surmount the challenges faced by PTT when used in isolation. Metal-based nanomaterials, renowned for their superior photothermal conversion efficiency and distinctive photochemical properties, have been extensively researched and applied in the field of PTT. This review summarizes the latest developments in combination therapies, with a specific focus on the combination of PTT and immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) for cancer treatment, including a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in noble metal-based and 2D transition metal chalcogenides (TMDCs)-based photothermal agents, and their anticancer effect when combining PTT with immune checkpoint blockades (anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-L1) therapy. The goal of this review is to present an overview of the application, current challenges and future prospects of metal-based photothermal agents in PTT combined with ICT for cancer treatment.

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal concentration-dependent blockage of graphene quantum dots to water channel protein openings

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted significant attention across various scientific research areas due to their exceptional properties. However, studies on the potential toxicity of GQDs have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the toxicity profile of GQDs is essential for a thorough understanding of their biosafety. In this work, employing a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach, we investigate the interactions between GQDs and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) with the AQP1 water channel protein, aiming to explore the potential biological influence of GQDs/GOQDs. Our MD simulation results reveal that GQDs can adsorb to the loop region around the openings of AQP1 water channels, resulting in the blockage of these channels and potential toxicity. Interestingly, this blockage is concentration-dependent, with higher GQD concentrations leading to a greater likelihood of blockage. Additionally, GOQDs show a lower probability of blocking the openings of AQP1 water channels compared to GQDs, due to the hydrophobicity of the loop regions around the openings, which ultimately leads to lower interaction energy. Therefore, these findings provide new insights into the potential adverse impact of GQDs on AQP1 water channels through the blockage of their openings, offering valuable molecular insights into the toxicity profile of GQD nanomaterials.

Facile Synthesis of a Multifunctional Porous Organic Polymer Nanosonosensitizer (mHM@HMME) for Enhanced Cancer Sonodynamic Therapy

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which involves the activation of sonosensitizers to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species under ultrasound irradiation, is a promising noninvasive modality for cancer treatment. However, the clinical translational application of SDT is impeded by the lack of efficient sonosensitizers, the inefficient accumulation of sonosensitizers at tumor sites, and the complicated immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Herein, we developed a facilely synthesized multifunctional porous organic polymer nanosonosensitizer (mHM@HMME) for enhanced SDT. Specifically, mHM@HMME nanosonosensitizers were prepared by incorporating chemotherapeutic mitoxantrone into the one-step synthesis process of disulfide bond containing porous organic polymers, followed by loading with organic sonosensitizer (HMME) and camouflaging with a cancer cell membrane. Due to the cancer cell membrane camouflage, this multifunctional mHM@HMME nanosonosensitizer showed prolonged blood circulation and tumor targeting aggregation. Under ultrasound irradiation, the mHM@HMME nanosonosensitizer exhibited a satisfactory SDT performance both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the potent SDT combined with glutathione-responsive drug release in tumor cells induced robust immunogenic cell death to enhance the antitumor effect of SDT in turn. Overall, this facilely synthesized multifunctional mHM@HMME nanosonosensitizer shows great potential application in enhanced SDT.

A redox homeostasis disruptor based on a biodegradable nanoplatform for ultrasound (US) imaging-guided high-performance ferroptosis therapy of tumors

The synergistic disruption of intracellular redox homeostasis through the combination of ferroptosis/gas therapy shows promise in enhancing the antitumor efficacy. However, the development of an optimal delivery system encounters significant challenges, including effective storage, precise delivery, and controlled release of therapeutic gas. In this study, we propose the utilization of a redox homeostasis disruptor that is selectively activated by the tumor microenvironment (TME), in conjunction with our newly developed nanoplatforms (MC@HMOS@Au@RGD), for highly efficient ferroptosis therapy of tumors. The TME-triggered degradation of HMOS initiates the release of MC and AuNPs from the MC@HMOS@Au@RGD nanoplatform. The released MC subsequently reacts with endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and H+ to enable the on-demand release of CO gas, leading to mitochondrial damage. Simultaneously, the released AuNPs exhibit GOx-like activity, catalyzing glucose to generate gluconic acid and H2O2. This process not only promotes the decomposition of MnCO to enhance CO production but also enhances the Fenton-like reaction between Mn2+ and H2O2, generating ROS through the modulation of the H+ and H2O2-enriched TME. Moreover, the generation of CO bubbles enables the monitoring of the ferroptosis treatment process through ultrasound (US) imaging. The efficacy of our prepared MC@HMOS@Au@RGD disruptors in ferroptosis therapy is validated through both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

An insight into the dual role of MoS2-based nanocarriers in anticancer drug delivery and therapy

Over the years, nanomaterials have been exploited as drug delivery systems and therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Special emphasis has been placed on structure and shape-mediated drug loading and release. Functional materials, including molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have shown promising results because of their tunable structure and unmatched physicochemical properties. Specifically, easy surface functionalization and high drug adsorption ability make them ideal candidates. Although the large surface area of nanosheets/nanoflakes may result in high drug loading, the encapsulation efficiency is better for MoS2 nanoflower structures. Due to its high targeting abilities, the loading of chemotherapeutic drugs onto MoS2 may minimize nonspecific cellular death and undesired side effects. Furthermore, due to their strong light-absorption ability, MoS2 nanostructures have been widely exploited as photothermal and photodynamic therapeutic agents. The unexplored dimensions of cancer therapy, including chemodynamic (Fenton-like reaction) and piezo-catalytic (ultrasound-mediated reactive oxygen generation), have been recently unlocked, in which the catalytic properties of MoS2 are utilized to generate toxic free radicals to eliminate cancer. Intriguingly, combining these therapeutic modalities often results in high therapeutic efficacy at low doses and minimizes side effects. With a plethora of recent studies, a thorough analysis of current findings is crucial. Therefore, this review discusses the major advances in this field of research. A brief commentary on the limitations/future outlook/ethical issues of the clinical translation of MoS2-mediated cancer treatments is also deliberated. Overall, in our observations, the MoS2-based nanoformulations hold great potential for future cancer therapy applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Development of nanomedicines based on MoS2 has opened new avenues in cancer treatment. The MoS2 with different morphologies (nanosheet/nanoflower/QDs) has shown promising results in controlled and targeted drug delivery, leading to minimized side effects and increased therapeutic efficacy. While existing reviews have primarily focused on the optical/thermal properties utilized in photodynamic/photothermal therapy, the outstanding catalytic properties of MoS2 utilized in cancer therapies (chemodynamic/piezo-catalytic) are often overlooked. This review critically highlights and praises/criticizes individual articles reporting the MoS2-based nanoplatforms for cancer therapy applications. Additionally, MoS2-based combined therapies for synergistic effects are discussed. Furthermore, a brief commentary on the future prospects for clinical translations is also deliberated, which is appealing to various research communities engaged in cancer theranostics and biomedical sciences research.

Application of Multifunctional Nanozymes in Tumor Therapy

Tumors are one of the main diseases threatening human life and health. The emergence of nanotechnology in recent years has introduced a novel therapeutic avenue for addressing tumors. Through the amalgamation of nanotechnology's inherent attributes with those of natural enzymes, nanozymes have demonstrated the ability to initiate catalytic reactions, modulate the biological microenvironment, and facilitate the adoption of multifaceted therapeutic approaches, thereby exhibiting considerable promise in the realm of cancer treatment. In this Review, the application of nanozymes in chemodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and starvation therapy are summarized. Moreover, a detailed discussion regarding the mechanism of conferring physiotherapeutic functionality upon catalytic nanosystems is provided. It is posited that this innovative catalytic treatment holds significant potential to play a crucial role within the domain of nanomedicine.

Engineering Iron-Based Nanomaterials for Breast Cancer Therapy Associated with Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis has received increasing attention as a novel nonapoptotic programmed death. Recently, iron-based nanomaterials have been extensively exploited for efficient tumor ferroptosis therapy, as they directly release high concentrations of iron and increase intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Breast cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in women; inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation through activating the ferroptosis pathway could be a potential new target for patient treatment. Here, we briefly introduce the background of ferroptosis and systematically review the current cancer therapeutic strategies based on iron-based ferroptosis inducers. Finally, we summarize the advantages of these various ferroptosis inducers and shed light on future perspectives. This review aims to provide better guidance for the development of iron-based nanomaterial ferroptosis inducers.

The role of metal ions in the occurrence, progression, drug resistance, and biological characteristics of gastric cancer

Metal ions exert pivotal functions within the human body, encompassing essential roles in upholding cell structure, gene expression regulation, and catalytic enzyme activity. Additionally, they significantly influence various pathways implicated in divergent mechanisms of cell death. Among the prevailing malignant tumors of the digestive tract worldwide, gastric cancer stands prominent, exhibiting persistent high mortality rates. A compelling body of evidence reveals conspicuous ion irregularities in tumor tissues, encompassing gastric cancer. Notably, metal ions have been observed to elicit distinct contributions to the progression, drug resistance, and biological attributes of gastric cancer. This review consolidates pertinent literature on the involvement of metal ions in the etiology and advancement of gastric cancer. Particular attention is directed towards metal ions, namely, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn, elucidating their roles in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer, cellular demise processes, drug resistance phenomena, and therapeutic approaches.

Nanotechnology Utilizing Ferroptosis Inducers in Cancer Treatment

Current cancer treatment options have presented numerous challenges in terms of reaching high efficacy. As a result, an immediate step must be taken to create novel therapies that can achieve more than satisfying outcomes in the fight against tumors. Ferroptosis, an emerging form of regulated cell death (RCD) that is reliant on iron and reactive oxygen species, has garnered significant attention in the field of cancer therapy. Ferroptosis has been reported to be induced by a variety of small molecule compounds known as ferroptosis inducers (FINs), as well as several licensed chemotherapy medicines. These compounds' low solubility, systemic toxicity, and limited capacity to target tumors are some of the significant limitations that have hindered their clinical effectiveness. A novel cancer therapy paradigm has been created by the hypothesis that ferroptosis induced by nanoparticles has superior preclinical properties to that induced by small drugs and can overcome apoptosis resistance. Knowing the different ideas behind the preparation of nanomaterials that target ferroptosis can be very helpful in generating new ideas. Simultaneously, more improvement in nanomaterial design is needed to make them appropriate for therapeutic treatment. This paper first discusses the fundamentals of nanomedicine-based ferroptosis to highlight the potential and characteristics of ferroptosis in the context of cancer treatment. The latest study on nanomedicine applications for ferroptosis-based anticancer therapy is then highlighted.

2D Materials for Combination Therapy to Address Challenges in the Treatment of Cancer

2D materials exhibit a variety of characteristics that make them appealing platforms for cancer treatment such as high drug loading capacity and photothermal and photodynamic properties. A key advantage of 2D material platforms for oncological applications is the ability to harness multiple modalities including drug delivery, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, gene delivery, and immunotherapy approaches for improved efficacy. In this review, a comparison of the unique properties of different classes of 2D materials that enable their usage as platforms for multimodal therapy is provided. Further, the benefits and drawbacks of different platforms are also highlighted. Finally, current challenges and emerging opportunities for future development of 2D materials to further enable combination therapy and translation from the bench to clinical oncology applications are discussed.

Deeper insight into ferroptosis: association with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and brain tumors and their possible treatment by nanomaterials induced ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is an emerging and novel type of iron-dependent programmed cell death which is mainly caused by the excessive deposition of free intracellular iron in the brain cells. This deposited free iron exerts a ferroptosis pathway, resulting in lipid peroxidation (LiPr). There are mainly three ferroptosis pathways viz. iron metabolism-mediated cysteine/glutamate, and LiPr-mediated. Iron is required by the brain as a redox metal for several physiological activities. Due to the iron homeostasis balance disruption, the brain gets adversely affected which further causes neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and brain tumors like glioblastoma (GBS), and glioma. Nanotechnology has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of these NDDs. A synergistic effect of nanomaterials and ferroptosis could prove to be an effective and efficient approach in the field of nanomedicine. In the current review, the authors have highlighted all the latest research in the field of ferroptosis, specifically emphasizing on the role of major molecular key players and various mechanisms involved in the ferroptosis pathway. Moreover, here the authors have also addressed the correlation of ferroptosis with the pathophysiology of NDDs and theragnostic effect of ferroptosis and nanomaterials for the prevention and treatment of NDDs.

Targeting ferroptosis opens new avenues for the development of novel therapeutics

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death with distinct characteristics, including altered iron homeostasis, reduced defense against oxidative stress, and abnormal lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have provided compelling evidence supporting the notion that ferroptosis plays a key pathogenic role in many diseases such as various cancer types, neurodegenerative disease, diseases involving tissue and/or organ injury, and inflammatory and infectious diseases. Although the precise regulatory networks that underlie ferroptosis are largely unknown, particularly with respect to the initiation and progression of various diseases, ferroptosis is recognized as a bona fide target for the further development of treatment and prevention strategies. Over the past decade, considerable progress has been made in developing pharmacological agonists and antagonists for the treatment of these ferroptosis-related conditions. Here, we provide a detailed overview of our current knowledge regarding ferroptosis, its pathological roles, and its regulation during disease progression. Focusing on the use of chemical tools that target ferroptosis in preclinical studies, we also summarize recent advances in targeting ferroptosis across the growing spectrum of ferroptosis-associated pathogenic conditions. Finally, we discuss new challenges and opportunities for targeting ferroptosis as a potential strategy for treating ferroptosis-related diseases.

2D MoS2 Nanosheets Induce Ferroptosis by Promoting NCOA4-Dependent Ferritinophagy and Inhibiting Ferroportin

The exposure of MoS₂ nanosheets can cause cytotoxicity, which causes health risks and affects its medical applications. However, knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms remains limited. This study reports that MoS₂ nanosheets induces ferroptosis in vivo and in vitro, which is caused by the nanosheet themselves rather than by the dissolved ions. MoS₂ nanosheets induce ferroptosis in epithelial (BEAS-2B) and macrophage (RAW264.7) cells due to nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)-dependent excusive ferritinophagy and the inhibition of ferroportin-1 (FPN). In this process, most of the MoS₂ nanosheets enter the cells via macropinocytosis and are localized to the lysosome, contributing to an increase in the lysosomal membrane permeability. At the same time, NCOA4-dependent ferritinophagy is activated, and ferritin is degraded in the lysosome, which generates Fe²⁺ .Fe²⁺ leaks into the cytoplasm, leading to ferroptosis. Furthermore, the inhibition of FPN further aggravates the overload of Fe²⁺ in the cell. It has also been observed that ferroptosis is increased in lung tissue in mouse models exposed to MoS₂ nanosheets. This work highlights a novel mechanism by which MoS₂ nanosheets induce ferroptosis by promoting NCOA4-dependent ferritinophagy and inhibiting FPN, which could be of importance to elucidate the toxicity and identify the medical applications of 2D nanoparticles.

Gum Arabic-mediated liquid exfoliation of transition metal dichalcogenides as photothermic anti-breast cancer candidates

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have gained considerable attention for a broad range of applications, including cancer therapy. Production of TMD nanosheets using liquid exfoliation provides an inexpensive and facile route to achieve high yields. In this study, we developed TMD nanosheets using gum arabic as an exfoliating and stabilizing agent. Different types of TMDs, including MoS₂, WS₂, MoSe₂, and WSe₂ nanosheets, were produced using gum arabic and were characterized physicochemically. The developed gum arabic TMD nanosheets exhibited a remarkable photothermal absorption capacity in the near-infrared (NIR) region (808 nm and 1 W⋅cm^-2). The drug doxorubicin was loaded on the gum arabic-MoSe₂ nanosheets (Dox-G-MoSe₂), and the anticancer activity was evaluated using MDA-MB-231 cells and a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay, live and dead cell assays, and flow cytometry. Dox-G-MoSe₂ significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cancer cell proliferation under the illumination ofan NIR laser at 808 nm. These results indicate that Dox-G-MoSe₂ is a potentially valuable biomaterial for breast cancer therapy.

Inaugurating a novel adjuvant therapy in urological cancers: Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, a distinctive form of programmed cell death, is involved in numerous diseases with specific characteristics, including certain cell morphology, functions, biochemistry, and genetics, that differ from other forms of programmed cell death, such as apoptosis. Many studies have explored ferroptosis and its associated mechanisms, drugs, and clinical applications in diseases such as kidney injury, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and prostate cancer. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms of some ferroptosis inducers, such as enzalutamide and erastin. These are current research focuses and have already been studied extensively. In summary, this review focuses on the use of ferroptosis induction as a therapeutic strategy for treating tumors of the urinary system.

Unsaturated phospholipid modified FeOCl nanosheets for enhancing tumor ferroptosis

Iron-dependent accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation play key roles in ferroptosis, which has been an attractive strategy to kill tumor cells. However, the rapid annihilation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) produced from the Fenton reaction has become a major obstacle in inducing lipid peroxidation in cells. In this study, we develop a nano-delivery system of unsaturated phospholipid (Lip) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) functionalized FeOCl nanosheets (FeOCl@PAA-Lip). In this system, the ˙OH radicals produced from the Fenton reaction between FeOCl nanosheets and endogenous H₂O₂ of tumor cells attack Lip on the nanosheets in situ to initiate the lipid peroxidation chain reaction, which not only realizes free radical conversion but also leads to the amplification of ROS and lipid peroxides, thus enhancing tumor ferroptosis. The in vitro and in vivo results confirmed that FeOCl@PAA-Lip nanosheets exhibited specific tumor cell-killing effects, good biocompatibility, long circulation time, low side effects, high tumor targeting and an excellent tumor inhibition rate (73%). The Lip functionalization strategy offers a paradigm of enhancing ferroptosis treatment by conversion of ˙OH/phospholipid radicals/lipid peroxyl radicals and strengthening lipid peroxidation.

Ferroptosis heterogeneity in triple-negative breast cancer reveals an innovative immunotherapy combination strategy

Treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains challenging. Deciphering the orchestration of metabolic pathways in regulating ferroptosis will provide new insights into TNBC therapeutic strategies. Here, we integrated the multiomics data of our large TNBC cohort (n = 465) to develop the ferroptosis atlas. We discovered that TNBCs had heterogeneous phenotypes in ferroptosis-related metabolites and metabolic pathways. The luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype of TNBC was characterized by the upregulation of oxidized phosphatidylethanolamines and glutathione metabolism (especially GPX4), which allowed the utilization of GPX4 inhibitors to induce ferroptosis. Furthermore, we verified that GPX4 inhibition not only induced tumor ferroptosis but also enhanced antitumor immunity. The combination of GPX4 inhibitors and anti-PD1 possessed greater therapeutic efficacy than monotherapy. Clinically, higher GPX4 expression correlated with lower cytolytic scores and worse prognosis in immunotherapy cohorts. Collectively, this study demonstrated the ferroptosis landscape of TNBC and revealed an innovative immunotherapy combination strategy for refractory LAR tumors.

Bibliometric analysis of ferroptosis: a comprehensive evaluation of its contribution to cancer immunity and immunotherapy

Background

In the past 5 years, ferroptosis-associated cancer immunity has been attracted significant research interest.

Objective

This study was performed to identify and analyze the global output trend for ferroptosis in cancer immunity.

Methods

Relevant studies were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on Feb 10^th, 2023. The VOSviewer and Histcite softwares were utilized to perform the visual bibliometric and deep mining analyses.

Results

A total of 694 studies (530 articles (76.4%) and 164 (23.6%) review articles) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection for visualization analyses. The top 3 key keywords were ferroptosis, prognosis and immunotherapy. The top 30 local citation score (LCS) authors were all collaborators of Zou Weiping. Deep mining of 51 nanoparticle-related articles showed that BIOMATERIALS was the most popular journal. The primary goal of gene signatures related to ferroptosis and cancer immunity was to establish prognostic predictions.

Conclusion

There has been a significant increase in ferroptosis-associated immune publications in the recent 3 years. The key research hotspots include mechanisms, prediction and therapeutic outcomes. The most influential article was from the Zou Weiping's group, which proposed that system xc-mediated ferroptosis is induced by CD8(+) T cell-secreted IFNγ after PD-L1 blockage for immunotherapy. The frontier of research in the field of ferroptosis-associated immune is the study on nanoparticle and gene signature The limitation of this bibliometric study is that publications on this topic are few.

Targeting cell death pathways for cancer therapy: recent developments in necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis research

Many types of human cells self-destruct to maintain biological homeostasis and defend the body against pathogenic substances. This process, called regulated cell death (RCD), is important for various biological activities, including the clearance of aberrant cells. Thus, RCD pathways represented by apoptosis have increased in importance as a target for the development of cancer medications in recent years. However, because tumor cells show avoidance to apoptosis, which causes treatment resistance and recurrence, numerous studies have been devoted to alternative cancer cell mortality processes, namely necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis; these RCD modalities have been extensively studied and shown to be crucial to cancer therapy effectiveness. Furthermore, evidence suggests that tumor cells undergoing regulated death may alter the immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to some extent, rendering it more suitable for inhibiting cancer progression and metastasis. In addition, other types of cells and components in the TME undergo the abovementioned forms of death and induce immune attacks on tumor cells, resulting in enhanced antitumor responses. Hence, this review discusses the molecular processes and features of necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis and the effects of these novel RCD modalities on tumor cell proliferation and cancer metastasis. Importantly, it introduces the complex effects of novel forms of tumor cell death on the TME and the regulated death of other cells in the TME that affect tumor biology. It also summarizes the potential agents and nanoparticles that induce or inhibit novel RCD pathways and their therapeutic effects on cancer based on evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies and reports clinical trials in which RCD inducers have been evaluated as treatments for cancer patients. Lastly, we also summarized the impact of modulating the RCD processes on cancer drug resistance and the advantages of adding RCD modulators to cancer treatment over conventional treatments.

Enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles for cancer treatment using versatile targeted strategies

Poor targeting of therapeutics leading to severe adverse effects on normal tissues is considered one of the obstacles in cancer therapy. To help overcome this, nanoscale drug delivery systems have provided an alternative avenue for improving the therapeutic potential of various agents and bioactive molecules through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Nanosystems with cancer-targeted ligands can achieve effective delivery to the tumor cells utilizing cell surface-specific receptors, the tumor vasculature and antigens with high accuracy and affinity. Additionally, stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms have also been considered as a promising and effective targeting strategy against tumors, as these nanoplatforms maintain their stealth feature under normal conditions, but upon homing in on cancerous lesions or their microenvironment, are responsive and release their cargoes. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the field of active targeting drug delivery systems and a number of stimuli-responsive release studies in the context of emerging nanoplatform development, and also discuss how this knowledge can contribute to further improvements in clinical practice.

Confined Construction of Ultrasmall Molybdenum Disulfide-Loaded Porous Silica Particles for Efficient Tumor Therapy

Recently, molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) has shown great application potential in tumor treatment because of its good photothermal properties. Unfortunately, most of the current molybdenum disulfide-based nanotherapeutic agents suffer from complex preparation processes, low photothermal conversion efficiencies, and poor structural/compositional regulation. To address these issues, in this paper, a facile "confined solvothermal" method is proposed to construct an MoS²-loaded porous silica nanosystem (designated as MoS₂@P-hSiO₂). The maximum photothermal efficiency of 79.5% of molybdenum-based materials reported in the literature at present was obtained due to the ultrasmall MoS₂ nanoclusters and the rich porous channels. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the cascade hybrid system (MoS₂/GOD@P-hSiO₂) after efficient loading of glucose oxidase (GOD) displayed a significant tumor-suppressive effect and good biosafety through the combined effects of photothermal and enzyme-mediated cascade catalytic therapy. Consequently, this hybrid porous network system combining the in situ solvothermal strategy of inorganic functional components and the efficient encapsulation of organic enzyme macromolecules can provide a new pathway to construct synergistic agents for the efficient and safe treatment of tumors.

Targeting Ferroptosis Pathway to Combat Therapy Resistance and Metastasis of Cancer

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated form of cell death caused by excessive lipid peroxidation. This form of cell death differed from known forms of cell death in morphological and biochemical features such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Cancer cells require higher levels of iron to survive, which makes them highly susceptible to ferroptosis. Therefore, it was found to be closely related to the progression, treatment response, and metastasis of various cancer types. Numerous studies have found that the ferroptosis pathway is closely related to drug resistance and metastasis of cancer. Some cancer cells reduce their susceptibility to ferroptosis by downregulating the ferroptosis pathway, resulting in resistance to anticancer therapy. Induction of ferroptosis restores the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to standard treatments. Cancer cells that are resistant to conventional therapies or have a high propensity to metastasize might be particularly susceptible to ferroptosis. Some biological processes and cellular components, such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and noncoding RNAs, can influence cancer metastasis by regulating ferroptosis. Therefore, targeting ferroptosis may help suppress cancer metastasis. Those progresses revealed the importance of ferroptosis in cancer, In order to provide the detailed molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in regulating therapy resistance and metastasis and strategies to overcome these barriers are not fully understood, we described the key molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its interaction with signaling pathways related to therapy resistance and metastasis. Furthermore, we summarized strategies for reversing resistance to targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy and inhibiting cancer metastasis by modulating ferroptosis. Understanding the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways of ferroptosis in cancer can provide new insights to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs, overcome drug resistance, and inhibit cancer metastasis.

Precision therapy through breaking the intracellular redox balance with an MOF-based hydrogel intelligent nanobot for enhancing ferroptosis and activating immunotherapy

With the advancement and development of nanomedicine, tumor precision therapy provides technical support for effective accumulation and targeted drug delivery, and reduces toxic side effects. In cancer cells, breaking the redox balance could induce cancer cell death. Herein, a novel iron-containing intelligent hydrogel nanobot (FeSe₂-Ce6/MOF@HA/PEI/CpG@HHPA NPs, abbreviated as FSMH) is proposed to break the intracellular redox balance and trigger the immune response. The as-fabricated multifunctional FSMH could not only exert Fenton reactions in the acidic tumor microenvironment, converting hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), but also effectively consume GSH to attenuate the intracellular oxidative stress. The negative charge of the FSMH nanohydrogel system guarantees its superexcellent stabilization in blood circulation and optimal tumor collection. Subsequently, the surface charge of the endocytosed FSMH was transformed to a positive charge after exposure to the acidic tumor environment, further improving its tumor collection and locally releasing Fe ions and immune adjuvants. Furthermore, Ce6 was released in a pH-responsive manner in the acidic microenvironment. In the presence of near-infrared light, singlet oxygen was produced by the FSMH nanohydrogel system, to ablate tumors and promote the maturation of dendritic cells, achieving the precision-combined strategies effect of CDT, PDT, and immunotherapy.

Utilization of metal or non-metal-based functional materials as efficient composites in cancer therapies

There has been great progress in cancer treatment through traditional approaches, even though some of them are still trapped in relative complications such as certain side effects and prospective chances of full recovery. As a conventional method, the immunotherapy approach is regarded as an effective approach to cure cancer. It is mainly promoted by immune checkpoint blocking and adoptive cell therapy, which can utilize the human immune system to attack tumor cells and make them necrose completely or stop proliferating cancer cells. Currently however, immunotherapy shows limited success due to the limitation of real applicable cases of targeted tumor environments and immune systems. Considering the urgent need to construct suitable strategies towards cancer therapy, metallic materials can be used as delivery systems for immunotherapeutic agents in the human body. Metallic materials exhibit a high degree of specificity, effectiveness, diagnostic ability, imaging ability and therapeutic effects with different biomolecules or polymers, which is an effective option for cancer treatment. In addition, these modified metallic materials contain immune-modulators, which can activate immune cells to regulate tumor microenvironments and enhance anti-cancer immunity. Additionally, they can be used as adjuvants with immunomodulatory activities, or as carriers for molecular transport to specific targets, which results in the loading of specific ligands to facilitate specific uptake. Here, we provide an overview of the different types of metallic materials used as efficient composites in cancer immunotherapy. We elaborate on the advancements using metallic materials with functional agents as effective composites in synergistic cancer treatment. Some nonmetallic functional composites also appear as a common phenomenon. Ascribed to the design of the composites themselves, the materials' surface structural characteristics are introduced as the drug-loading substrate. The physical and chemical properties of the functional materials emphasize that further research is required to fully characterize their mechanism, showing appropriate relevance for material toxicology and biomedical applications.

Novel monodisperse FePt nanocomposites for T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: biomedical theranostics applications

Given the high incidence and mortality of cancer, current research is focused on designing efficient diagnostic methods. At present, clinical diagnoses are made based on X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fiber optic endoscopy. MRI is a powerful diagnostic tool because it is non-invasive, has a high spatial resolution, uses non-ionizing radiation, and has good soft-tissue contrast. However, the long relaxation time of water protons may result in the inability to distinguish different tissues. To overcome this drawback of MRI, magnetic resonance contrast agents can enhance the contrast, improve the sensitivity of MRI-based diagnoses, increase the success rate of surgery, and reduce tumor recurrence. This review focuses on using iron-platinum (FePt) nanoparticles (NPs) in T2-weighted MRI to detect tumor location based on dark-field changes. In addition, existing methods for optimizing and improving FePt NPs are reviewed, and the MRI applications of FePt NPs are discussed. FePT NPs are expected to strengthen MRI resolution, thereby helping to inhibit tumor development.

Induction and application of ferroptosis in cancer therapy

At present, more than one cell death pathways have been found, one of which is ferroptosis. Ferroptosis was discovered in 2012 and described as an iron-dependent and lipid peroxidation-driven regulated cell death pathway. In the past few years, ferroptosis has been shown to induce tumor cell death, providing new ideas for tumor treatment. In this article, we summarize the latest advances in ferroptosis-induced tumor therapy at the intersection of tumor biology, molecular biology, redox biology, and materials chemistry. First, we state the characteristics of ferroptosis in cells, then introduce the key molecular mechanism of ferroptosis, and describes the relationship between ferroptosis and oxidative stress signaling pathways. Finally, we focused on several types of ferroptosis inducers discovered by scholars, and the application of ferroptosis in systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and nanomedicine, in the hope that ferroptosis can exert its potential in the treatment of tumors.

Advances in FePt-involved nano-system design and application for bioeffect and biosafety

The rapid development and wide application of nanomaterial-involved theranostic agents have drawn surging attention for improving the living standard of humankind and healthcare conditions. In this review, recent developments in the design, synthesis, biocompatibility evaluation and potential nanomedicine applications of FePt-involved nano-systems are summarized, especially for cancer theranostic and biological molecule detection. The in vivo multi-model imaging capability is discussed in detail, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Furthermore, we highlight the significant achievements of various FePt-involved nanotherapeutics for cancer treatment, such as drug delivery, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, a series of FePt-involved nanocomposites are also applied for biological molecule detection, such as H₂O₂, glucose and naked-eye detection of cancer cells. Ultimately, we also summarize the challenges and prospects of FePt-involved nano-systems in nanocatalytic medicine. This review is expected to give a general pattern for the development of FePt-involved nano-systems in the field of nanocatalytic medicine and analytical determination.

Research progress on the occurrence and therapeutic mechanism of ferroptosis in NSCLC

Ferroptosis refers to a novel way of cell death, inconsistent with the conventional concept of apoptosis and necrosis. It shows a close association with iron metabolism and oxidative damage, as marked by the significant increase of reactive oxygen species, the decreases of mitochondrial volume, and the thickening of membrane density. Recent studies confirmed that ferroptosis is closely associated with the occurrence, development, and therapy of the tumors. As impacted by the high levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides in lung cancer tissues, it is suggested that ferroptosis is more likely to occur in lung cancer tissues, which may act as a novel approach for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. In the present study, the research achievements in recent years on the regulating mechanism of ferroptosis and its effect on the occurrence and the therapy of lung cancer are reviewed.

Nano-bio interfaces effect of two-dimensional nanomaterials and their applications in cancer immunotherapy

The field of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial-based cancer immunotherapy combines research from multiple subdisciplines of material science, nano-chemistry, in particular nano-biological interactions, immunology, and medicinal chemistry. Most importantly, the "biological identity" of nanomaterials governed by bio-molecular corona in terms of bimolecular types, relative abundance, and conformation at the nanomaterial surface is now believed to influence blood circulation time, bio-distribution, immune response, cellular uptake, and intracellular trafficking. A better understanding of nano-bio interactions can improve utilization of 2D nano-architectures for cancer immunotherapy and immunotheranostics, allowing them to be adapted or modified to treat other immune dysregulation syndromes including autoimmune diseases or inflammation, infection, tissue regeneration, and transplantation. The manuscript reviews the biological interactions and immunotherapeutic applications of 2D nanomaterials, including understanding their interactions with biological molecules of the immune system, summarizes and prospects the applications of 2D nanomaterials in cancer immunotherapy.

Recent Advances in 2D Material-Mediated Immuno-Combined Cancer Therapy

In the last years, cancer immunotherapy has started to attract a lot of attention, becoming one of the alternatives in the clinical treatment of cancer. Indeed, one of the advantages of immunotherapy is that both primary and distant tumors can be efficiently eradicated through a triggered immune response. Due to their large specific surface area and unique physicochemical properties, 2D materials have become popular in cancer immunotherapy, especially as efficient drug carriers. They have been also exploited as photothermal platforms, chemodynamic agents, and photosensitizers to further enhance the efficacy of the therapy. In this review, the focus is on the recent development of 2D materials as new tools to combine immunotherapy with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, and radiodynamic therapy. These innovative synergistic approaches intend to go beyond the classical strategies based on a simple delivery function of immune modulators by nanomaterials. Furthermore, the effects of the 2D materials themselves and their surface properties (e.g., chemical modification and protein corona formation) on the induction of an immune response will be also discussed.

MoS2-based nanocomposites for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Molybdenum is a trace dietary element necessary for the survival of humans. Some molybdenum-bearing enzymes are involved in key metabolic activities in the human body (such as xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and sulfite oxidase). Many molybdenum-based compounds have been widely used in biomedical research. Especially, MoS2-nanomaterials have attracted more attention in cancer diagnosis and treatment recently because of their unique physical and chemical properties. MoS2 can adsorb various biomolecules and drug molecules via covalent or non-covalent interactions because it is easy to modify and possess a high specific surface area, improving its tumor targeting and colloidal stability, as well as accuracy and sensitivity for detecting specific biomarkers. At the same time, in the near-infrared (NIR) window, MoS2 has excellent optical absorption and prominent photothermal conversion efficiency, which can achieve NIR-based phototherapy and NIR-responsive controlled drug-release. Significantly, the modified MoS2-nanocomposite can specifically respond to the tumor microenvironment, leading to drug accumulation in the tumor site increased, reducing its side effects on non-cancerous tissues, and improved therapeutic effect. In this review, we introduced the latest developments of MoS2-nanocomposites in cancer diagnosis and therapy, mainly focusing on biosensors, bioimaging, chemotherapy, phototherapy, microwave hyperthermia, and combination therapy. Furthermore, we also discuss the current challenges and prospects of MoS2-nanocomposites in cancer treatment.

Targeting ferroptosis-based cancer therapy using nanomaterials: strategies and applications

As an iron-dependent mode of programmed cell death induced by lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis plays an important role in cancer therapy. The metabolic reprogramming in tumor microenvironment allows the possibility of targeting ferroptosis in cancer treatment. Recent studies reveal that nanomaterials targeting ferroptosis have prospects for the development of new cancer treatments. However, the design ideas of nanomaterials targeting ferroptosis sometimes vary. Therefore, in addition to the need for a systematic summary of these ideas, new ideas and insights are needed to make possible the construction of nanomaterials for effectively targeting this cell death pathway. At the same time, further optimization of nanomaterials design is required to make them appropriate for clinical treatment. In this context, we summarize this cross-cutting research area covering from the known mechanism of ferroptosis to providing feasible ideas for nanomaterials design as well as their clinical application. We aim to provide new insights and enlightenment for the next step in developing new nanomaterials for cancer treatment.

Near-infrared light-responsive hybrid hydrogels for the synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy of oral cancer

Light-stimulus-responsive therapies have been recognized as a promising strategy for the efficient and safe treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Hydrogels have emerged as a promising multifunctional platform combining localized drug delivery and sustained drug release with multimodal properties for combined OSCC therapy. However, inaccurate drug release and limited light-absorption efficiency have hindered their on-demand chemo-photothermal applications. To tackle these problems, an injectable and near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive hybrid system was developed by incorporating light-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as doxorubicin (DOX) carriers into the IR820/methylcellulose hydrogel networks for chemophotothermal therapy. Under NIR radiation, the incorporated IR820, a new green cyanine dye, was excited to induce photothermal effects against tumor cells. Meanwhile, MSNs achieved self-degradation-controlled DOX release via the cleavage of diselenide bonds induced by reactive oxygen species. Through the combination of chemotherapy and phototherapy, a long-lasting synergistic anti-tumor effect was achieved in vitro and in vivo with less toxicity. These findings demonstrate the potential of light-responsive hydrogels as a multifunctional platform for accurate synergistic chemophotothermal treatment of OSCC.

NIR-driven intracellular photocatalytic oxygen-supply on metallic molybdenum carbide@N-carbon for hypoxic tumor therapy

The intracellular O₂-supply not only can relieve tumor hypoxia but also enhance the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this work, metallic Mo₂C@N-carbon@PEG nanoparticles were constructed to reveal the near infrared (NIR)-photocatalytic O₂ generation and promote photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O nanorods and urea were adopted as resources that were calcined to obtain Mo₂C@N-carbon nanoparticles (20 nm). All samples displayed high NIR absorption as well as photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 52.7 % (Mo₂C@N-Carbon-3@PEG). The density functional theory calculations demonstrated the metallic characteristic of Mo₂C and that the consecutive interband/intraband charge-transition was responsible for the high NIR harvest and redox ability of electron-hole pairs, making the NIR-photocatalytic O₂ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In comparison with the pure Mo₂C, the heterostructure displayed twice the performance due to the enhanced charge-segregation between Mo₂C and N-carbon. Given the high X-ray absorption coefficient and photothermal ability, the nanocomposite could be used in novel computer tomography and photothermal imaging contrast. Furthermore, the novel biodegradation and metabolism behaviors of nanocomposites were investigated, which were reflected as elimination from the body (mouse) via feces and urine within 14 days. The as-synthesized Mo₂C@N-Carbon@PEG nanocomposites integrated the dual-model imaging, intracellular O₂-supply, and phototherapy into one nanoplatform, revealing its potential for anti-cancer therapy.

A Ferroptosis-Related Gene Model Predicts Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment for Cutaneous Melanoma

Background

Cutaneous melanoma is a common but aggressive tumor. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered cell death with important roles in tumor biology. Nevertheless, the prognostic power of ferroptosis-linked genes remained unclear in cutaneous melanoma.

Methods

Cutaneous melanoma patients of TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) were taken as the training cohort while GSE65904 and GSE22153 as the validation cohorts. Multifactor Cox regression model was used to build a prognostic model, and the performance of the model was assessed. Functional enrichment and immune infiltration analysis were used to clarify the mechanisms.

Results

A five ferroptosis-linked gene predictive model was developed. ALOX5 and GCH1 were illustrated as independent predictive factors. Functional assessment showed enriched immune-linked cascades. Immune infiltrating analysis exhibited the distinct immune microenvironment.

Conclusion

Herein, a novel ferroptosis-related gene prognostic model was built in cutaneous melanoma. This model could be used for prognostic prediction, and maybe helpful for the targeted and immunotherapies.

Peptide vaccine-conjugated mesoporous carriers synergize with immunogenic cell death and PD-L1 blockade for amplified immunotherapy of metastatic spinal

The clinical treatment of metastatic spinal tumor remains a huge challenge owing to the intrinsic limitations of the existing methods. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway blockade has been explored as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy; however, their inhibition has a low response rate, leading to the minimal cytotoxic T cell infiltration. To ameliorate the immunosuppressive microenvironment of intractable tumor and further boost the efficacy of immunotherapy, we report an all-round mesoporous nanocarrier composed of an upconverting nanoparticle core and a large-pore mesoporous silica shell (UCMS) that is simultaneously loaded with photosensitizer molecules, the IDO-derived peptide vaccine AL-9, and PD-L1 inhibitor. The IDO-derived peptide can be recognized by the dendritic cells and presented to CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells, thereby enhancing the immune response and promoting the killing of the IDO-expressed tumor cells. Meanwhile, the near-infrared (NIR) activated photodynamic therapy (PDT) could induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which promotes the effector T-cell infiltration. By combining the PDT-elicited ICD, peptide vaccine and immune checkpoint blockade, the designed UCMS@Pep-aPDL1 successfully potentiated local and systemic antitumor immunity and reduced the progression of metastatic foci, demonstrating a synergistic strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Non-coding RNAs in necroptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis in cancer metastasis

Distant metastasis is the main cause of death for cancer patients. Recently, the newly discovered programmed cell death includes necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, which possesses an important role in the process of tumor metastasis. At the same time, it is widely reported that non-coding RNA precisely regulates programmed death and tumor metastasis. In the present review, we summarize the function and role of necroptosis, pyrolysis, and ferroptosis involving in cancer metastasis, as well as the regulatory factors, including non-coding RNAs, of necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in the process of tumor metastasis.

Novel PVA-Based Microspheres Co-Loaded with Photothermal Transforming Agent and Chemotherapeutic for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

BACKGROUND

We previously designed an electrospinning chitosan (CS) nanofiber-based carrier, using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an adjuvant to deliver doxorubicin (DOX) and MoS2 nanosheets for postoperative tumor re-occurrence inhibition. However, owing to that the nanofibrous mat is un-injectable, this composite nanofiber is far from being clinically applicable.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Via modulating the electrospray parameters, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) beads string doped with DOX and MoS2 (PVA/MoS2/DOX microspheres) were prepared, which were further crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to obtain the water-stability.

RESULTS

Under the 808-nm laser irradiation, MoS2 nanosheets rendered the prepared PVA/MoS2/DOX microspheres an excellent light-to-heat conversion performance with η of 23.2%. Besides, the heat generated by near-infrared laser irradiation can improve the effect of chemotherapy by promoting the release rate of DOX. HT29 cell and tumor-bearing nude mice were used to systematically study the combined tumor treatment efficiency of composite nanospheres.

CONCLUSION

PVA/MoS2/DOX nanospheres have excellent photothermal effect and chemotherapy effect, which can completely suppress the tumor recurrence. Therefore, the PVA/MoS2/DOX nanospheres are anticipated to find potential applications in the treatment of local colorectal cancer.

NIR Laser Responsive Nanoparticles for Ovarian Cancer Targeted Combination Therapy with Dual-Modal Imaging Guidance

Purpose

Multifunctional nanoparticles with targeted therapeutic function and diagnostic-imaging are of great interest in the domain of precision therapy. NIR laser responsive nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG-FA encapsulating Bi₂S₃, PFP, and Dox (designed as FBPD NPs)) are synthesized for ovarian cancer targeted combination therapy with CT/PA dual-modal imaging guidance (PA: photoacoustic; CT: X-ray computed tomography).

Methods and Results

The FBPD NPS prepared by the double emulsification method revealed excellent dispersity, great stability, outstanding optical properties. The temperature of FBPD NPs increased rapidly after laser irradiation, inducing liquid-to-gas conversion of perfluoropentane (PFP), and promoting the release of Dox up to 86.7%. These FBPD NPs demonstrated their outstanding imaging capability for both PA and CT imaging both in vitro and in vivo, providing the potential for therapeutic guidance and monitoring. Assisted by folic acid, these nanoparticles could highly enrich in ovarian tumor tissue and the accumulation peaked at 3 h after intravenous administration. The desirable photothermal-conversion efficiency of the nanoparticles combined with chemotherapy achieved highly efficient therapy, which was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

We successfully constructed multifunctional theranostic FBPD NPs for highly efficient PTT/chemotherapy combined therapy with dual CT/PA imaging guidance/monitoring. The unique nanoparticles with multiple abilities pave an emerging way toward precise treatment of ovarian cancer.

Novel Multifunctional Stimuli-Responsive Nanoparticles for Synergetic Chemo-Photothermal Therapy of Tumors

In this study, a novel class of multifunctional responsive nanoparticles is designed and fabricated as drug nanocarriers for synergetic chemo-photothermal therapy of tumors. The proposed nanoparticles are composed of a thermo-/pH-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNA) nanogel core, a polydopamine (PDA) layer for photothermal conversion, and an outer folic acid (FA) layer as a targeting agent for the folate receptors on tumor cells. The fabricated nanoparticles show good biocompatibility and outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency. The proposed nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) drug molecules are stable under physiological conditions with low leakage of drugs, while rapidly release drugs in environments with low pH conditions and at high temperature. The experimental results show that the drug release process is mainly governed by Fickian diffusion. In vitro cell experimental results demonstrate that the PNA-DOX@PDA-FA nanoparticles can be phagocytized by 4T1 tumor cells and release drugs in tumor cell acidic environments, and confirm that the combined chemo and photothermal therapeutic efficacy of PNA-DOX@PDA-FA nanoparticles is higher than the photothermal therapeutic efficacy or the chemotherapeutic efficacy alone. The proposed multifunctional responsive nanoparticles in this study provide a novel class of drug nanocarriers as a promising tool for synergetic chemo-photothermal therapy of tumors.

Recent progress on nanomedicine-induced ferroptosis for cancer therapy

The current treatment strategies for cancer therapy have posed many problems in achieving high efficacy. Therefore, an urgent step is needed to develop innovative therapies that can win beyond satisfactory results against tumor. Ferroptosis that is a kind of non-apoptotic based programmed cell death has played a crucial role in eradicating tumors by reactive oxygen species and iron-dependent pathways. Research shows a remarkable potential of ferroptosis in eliminating aggressive malignancies resistant to traditional therapies. The combination of nanomedicine and ferroptosis has revealed a close relationship for the treatment of various cancer types with high efficacy. This review introduces the basics of nanomedicine-based ferroptosis first to emphasize the feasibility and properties of ferroptosis in cancer therapy. Then, the current research on the applications of nanomedicine for the ferroptosis-based anticancer therapy is highlighted. Finally, conclusions and future research directions in perspective of various challenges in developing nanomedicine-based ferroptosis into clinical therapeutics are discussed.