Volume 60, Issue 16 pp. 8938-8947
Research Article

NIR-Actuated Remote Activation of Ferroptosis in Target Tumor Cells through a Photothermally Responsive Iron-Chelated Biopolymer Nanoplatform

Chencheng Xue

Chencheng Xue

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Menghuan Li

Menghuan Li

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Changhuang Liu

Changhuang Liu

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Yanan Li

Yanan Li

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

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Yang Fei

Yang Fei

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

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Yan Hu

Yan Hu

Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China

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Kaiyong Cai

Kaiyong Cai

Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China

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Yanli Zhao

Yanli Zhao

Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371 Singapore, Singapore

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Zhong Luo

Corresponding Author

Zhong Luo

School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Huxi, G75 Lanhai, Chongqing, 400044 China

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First published: 04 February 2021
Citations: 148

Graphical Abstract

Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death and holds promise for tumor inhibition. However, it is difficult to remotely control the initiation and execution of ferroptosis in specific sites. This study reports a biocompatible and biodegradable biopolymeric nanoplatform for tumor-targeted ferroptosis therapy, of which the pro-ferroptotic activities could be activated in an on-demand manner using near-infrared light as the triggering signal.

Abstract

Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death that shows promise for tumor treatment. Most current ferroptosis tumor therapies are based on the intrinsic pathological features of the malignancies, and it would be of clinical significance to develop ferroptosis-inducing strategies with improved tumor specificity and modulability. Here we report a polydopamine-based nanoplatform (FeIIPDA@LAP-PEG-cRGD) for the efficient loading of Fe2+ and β-lapachone (LAP), which could readily initiate ferroptosis in tumor cells upon treatment with near-infrared light. PDA nanostructures could generate mild hyperthermia under NIR irritation and trigger the release of the ferroptosis-inducing Fe2+ ions. The NIR-actuated photothermal effect would also activate cellular heat shock response and upregulate the downstream NQO1 via HSP70/NQO1 axis to facilitate bioreduction of the concurrently released β-lapachone and enhance intracellular H2O2 formation to promote the Fe2+-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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