Biomineralized RuO2 Nanozyme with Multi-Enzyme Activity for Ultrasound-Triggered Peroxynitrite-Boosted Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, as a non-apoptotic cell death pathway, has attracted increasing attention for cancer therapy. However, the clinical application of ferroptosis-participated modalities is severely limited by the low efficiency owing to the intrinsic intracellular regulation pathways. Herein, chlorin e6 (Ce6) and N-acetyl-l-cysteine-conjugated bovine serum albumin-ruthenium dioxide is elaborately designed and constructed for ultrasound-triggered peroxynitrite-mediated ferroptosis. Upon ultrasound stimulation, the sonosensitizers of Ce6 and RuO2 exhibit highly efficient singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) generation capacity, which is sequentially amplified by superoxide dismutase and catalase-mimicking activity of RuO2 with hypoxia relief. Meanwhile, the S-nitrosothiol group in BCNR breaks off to release nitric oxide (NO) on-demand, which then reacts with O-1(2) forming highly cytotoxic peroxynitrite (ONOO-) spontaneously. Importantly, BCNR nanozyme with glutathione peroxidase-mimicking activity can consume glutathione (GSH), along with the generated ONOO- downregulates glutathione reductase, avoiding GSH regeneration. The two-parallel approach ensures complete depletion of GSH within the tumor, resulting in the boosted ferroptosis sensitization of cancer cells. Thus, this work presents a superior paradigm for designing peroxynitrite-boosted ferroptosis sensitization cancer therapeutic.

Automated summary

This study designs chlorin e6 (Ce6) and bovine serum albumin-ruthenium dioxide nanozyme (BCNR) for ultrasound-triggered peroxynitrite-mediated ferroptosis. The Ce6 and RuO2 generate highly efficient singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) upon ultrasound stimulation. BCNR releases nitric oxide (NO) on-demand, which reacts with O-1(2) forming highly cytotoxic peroxynitrite (ONOO-). BCNR nanozyme consumes glutathione (GSH) and downregulates glutathione reductase, ensuring complete depletion of GSH within the tumor and enhancing ferroptosis sensitization of cancer cells.