Ultrasound-triggered reactive oxygen species effector nanoamplifier for enhanced combination therapy of mutant p53 tumors

High-Z elements dominated bismuth-based heterojunction nano-semiconductor for radiotherapy-enhanced sonodynamic breast cancer therapy

Ultrasound and X-rays possess remarkable tissue penetration capabilities, making them promising candidates for cancer therapy. Sonodynamic therapy, which utilizes ultrasound excitation, offers a safer alternative to radiotherapy and can be combined with X-rays to mitigate the adverse effects on normal tissues. In this study, we developed a bismuth-based heterostructure semiconductor (BFIP) to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and sonodynamic therapy in treating breast cancer. The semiconductor is fabricated through a two-step process involving the synthesis of porous spherical bismuth fluoride and partially reduced to bismuth oxyiodide. Then, followed by surface modification with amphiphilic polyethylene glycol, BFIP is fabricated. Incorporating heavy atoms in the BFIP enhances radiosensitivity. The BFIP exhibits superior carrier separation efficiency compared to bismuth fluoride, generating a substantial quantity of reactive oxygen species upon ultrasound stimulation. Moreover, the BFIP effectively depletes glutathione through coordination and hole-mediated oxidation pathways, disrupting the tumor microenvironment and inducing oxidative stress. Encouraging results are acquired in both in vitro cell and in vivo tumor models. Our study provides a de-risking strategy by utilizing ultrasound as a partial substitute for X-rays in treating deep-seated tumors, offering a viable research direction for constructing a unified nanoplatform.

Synergistic Photochemo Effects Based on Light-Activatable Dual Prodrug Nanoparticles for Effective Cancer Therapy

Ferroptosis is identified as a novel type of cell death with distinct properties involved in physical conditions and various diseases, including cancers. It is considered that ferroptosis provides a promising therapeutic strategy for optimizing oncotherapy. Although erastin is an effective ferroptosis trigger, the potential of its clinical application is largely restricted by its poor water solubility and concomitant limitations. To address this issue, an innovative nanoplatform (PE@PTGA) that integrated protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and erastin coated with amphiphilic polymers (PTGA) to evoke ferroptosis and apoptosis is constructed and exemplified using an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft mouse model as a paradigm. The self-assembled nanoparticles can enter HCC cells and release PpIX and erastin. With light stimulation, PpIX exerts hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species to inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells. Besides, the accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) can further promote erastin-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that PE@PTGA synergistically inhibits tumor development by stimulating both ferroptosis- and apoptosis-related pathways. Moreover, PE@PTGA has low toxicity and satisfactory biocompatibility, suggesting its promising clinical benefit in cancer treatments.