Cyclodextrin-Derived ROS-Generating Nanomedicine with pH-Modulated Degradability to Enhance Tumor Ferroptosis Therapy and Chemotherapy

Nowadays, destruction of redox homeostasis to induce cancer cell death is an emerging anti-cancer strategy. Here, the authors utilized pH-sensitive acetalated beta-cyclodextrin (Ac-beta-CD) to efficiently deliver dihydroartemisinin (DHA) for tumor ferroptosis therapy and chemodynamic therapy in a synergistic manner. The Ac-beta-CD-DHA based nanoparticles are coated by an iron-containing polyphenol network. In response to the tumor microenvironment, Fe2+/Fe3+ can consume glutathione (GSH) and trigger the Fenton reaction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to the generation of lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, the O-O bridge bonds of DHA are also disintegrated to enable ferroptosis of cancer cells. Their results demonstrate that these nanoparticles acted as a ROS generator to break the redox balance of cancer cells, showing an effective anticancer efficacy, which is different from traditional approaches.

Automated summary

In this study, pH-sensitive nanoparticles were used to deliver dihydroartemisinin (DHA) for tumor therapy in multiple ways. The nanoparticles generate lethal oxidants in the tumor microenvironment and induce cancer cell death through ferroptosis. This strategy differs from traditional approaches and exhibits efficient anticancer efficacy.