Intramitochondrial Disulfide Polymerization Controls Cancer Cell Fate

Folic Acid-Functionalized β-Cyclodextrin for Delivery of Organelle-Targeted Peptide Chemotherapeutics in Cancer

Recent emphasis on the design of drug delivery systems typically involves the effective transport of a pharmaceutical substance to the disease site with the desired therapeutic efficacy and minimal cytotoxicity. Organelle-targeted peptides have become an integral part of designing an important class of prodrug/prodrug assemblies for new supramolecular therapeutics owing to their favorable biocompatibility, synthetic ease, tunability of their aggregation behavior, and desired functionalization for site-specificity. However, it is still limited due to the low selectivity. We designed a folic acid-functionalized β-cyclodextrin (FA-CD) as a delivery platform for specific and selective delivery of organelle-targeted (such as microtubule, lysosome, and mitochondria) peptide chemotherapeutics to the folate receptor (FR) overexpressing cancer cell lines. Low toxicity was found for the FA-CD and organelle-targeted peptide inclusion complex in FR-negative normal cells, but superior inhibition of tumor growth with no in vivo toxicity was found for the inclusion complex in the xenograft tumor model.

Enzyme-instructed intramitochondrial polymerization for enhanced anticancer treatment without the development of drug-resistance

Intracellular polymerization in living cells motivated chemists to generate polymeric structures with a multitude of possibilities to interact with biomacromolecules. However, out-of-control of the intracellular chemical reactions would be an obstacle restricting its application, providing the toxicity of non-targeted cells. Here, we reported intracellular thioesterase-mediated polymerization for selectively occurring polymerization using disulfide bonds in cancer cells. The acetylated monomers did not form disulfide bonds even under an oxidative environment, but they could polymerize into the polymeric structure after cleavage of acetyl groups only when encountered activity of thioesterase enzyme. Furthermore, acetylated monomers could be self-assembled with doxorubicin, providing doxorubicin loaded micelles for efficient intracellular delivery of drug and monomers. Since thioesterase enzymes were overexpressed in cancer cells specifically, the micelles were disrupted under activity of the enzyme and the polymerization could occur selectively in the cancer mitochondria. The resulting polymeric structures disrupted the mitochondrial membrane, thus activating the cellular death of cancer cells with high selectivity. This strategy selectively targets diverse cancer cells involving drug-resistant cells over normal cells. Moreover, the mitochondria targeting strategy overcomes the development of drug resistance even with repeated treatment. This approach provides a way for selective intracellular polymerization with desirable anticancer treatment.

A new perspective: deciphering the aberrance and clinical implication of disulfidptosis signatures in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Recent research has discovered disulfidptosis as a form of programmed cell death characterized by disulfide stress. However, its significance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. To investigate this, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were collected and used to identify ccRCC subgroups. Unsupervised clustering was employed to determine ccRCC heterogeneity. The mutation landscape and immune microenvironment of the subgroups were analyzed. The Disulfidptosis-Related Score was calculated using the LASSO-penalized Cox regression algorithm. The E-MATB-1980 cohort was used to validate the signature. The role of SLC7A11 in ccRCC metastasis was explored using western blotting and Transwell assays. Disulfidptosis-related genes are commonly downregulated in cancers and are linked to hypermethylation and copy number variation. The study revealed that ccRCC is divided into two sub-clusters: the disulfidptosis-desert sub-cluster, which is associated with a poor prognosis, a higher mutation frequency, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. A 14-gene prognostic model was developed using differentially expressed genes and was validated in the E-MATB-1980 cohort. The low-risk group demonstrated longer overall and disease-free survival and responded better to targeted immunotherapy. Results from in vitro experiments identified SLC7A11 as a key participant in ccRCC metastasis.

Identifying disulfidptosis subtypes in hepatocellular carcinoma through machine learning and preliminary exploration of its connection with immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent and deadly cancer, with limited treatment options for advanced-stage patients. Disulfidptosis is a recently identified mechanism of programmed cell death that occurs in SLC7A11 high-expressing cells due to glucose starvation-induced disintegration of the cellular disulfide skeleton. We aimed to explore the potential of disulfidptosis, as a prognostic and therapeutic marker in HCC.

METHODS

We classified HCC patients into two disulfidptosis subtypes (C1 and C2) based on the transcriptional profiles of 31 disulfrgs using a non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm. Further, five genes (NEIL3, MMP1, STC2, ADH4 and CFHR3) were screened by Cox regression analysis and machine learning algorithm to construct a disulfidptosis scoring system (disulfS). Cell proliferation assay, F-actin staining and PBMC co-culture model were used to validate that disulfidptosis occurs in HCC and correlates with immunotherapy response.

RESULTS

Our results suggests that the low disulfidptosis subtype (C2) demonstrated better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) prognosis, along with lower levels of immunosuppressive cell infiltration and activation of the glycine/serine/threonine metabolic pathway. Additionally, the low disulfidptosis group showed better responses to immunotherapy and potential antagonism with sorafenib treatment. As a total survival risk factor, disulfS demonstrated high predictive efficacy in multiple validation cohorts. We demonstrated the presence of disulfidptosis in HCC cells and its possible relevance to immunotherapeutic sensitization.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that novel biomarkers related to disulfidptosis may serve as useful clinical diagnostic indicators for liver cancer, enabling the prediction of prognosis and identification of potential treatment targets.

Drug-Loaded Nanogel for Efficient Orchestration of Cell Death Pathways by Intramitochondrial Disulfide Polymerization

Chemotherapy using a nanoscaled drug delivery system is an effective cancer therapy, but its high drug concentration often causes drug resistance in cancer cells and normal cell damage. Combination therapy involving two or more different cell signaling pathways can be a powerful tool to overcome the limitations of chemotherapy. Herein, this article presents nanogel (NG)-mediated co-delivery of a chemodrug camptothecin (CPT) and mitochondria-targeting monomer (MT monomer) for efficient activation of two modes of the programmed cell death pathway (apoptosis and necroptosis) and synergistic enhancement of cancer therapy. CPT and the monomer are incorporated together into the redox-degradable polymeric NGs for release in response to the intracellular glutathione. The MT monomer is shown to undergo reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered disulfide polymerization inside the cancerous mitochondria in cooperation with the chemotherapeutic CPT elevating the intracellular ROS level. The CPT/monomer interconnection in cell death mechanisms for mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced cell death is evidenced by a series of cell analyses showing ROS generation, mitochondria damage, impacts on (non)cancerous or drug-resistant cells, and cell death modes. The presented work provides beneficial insights for utilizing combination therapy to facilitate a desired cell death mechanism and developing a novel nanosystem for more efficacious cancer treatment.

Reactive oxygen species-responsive polyprodrug micelles deliver cell cycle regulators for chemosensitization

Combination chemotherapy is a common strategy to enhance treatment efficacy and avoid multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical practice. However, it is difficult to ensure the co-enrichment and reasonable ratio of synergistic drugs in the lesion site after intravenous administration. Integrating synergistic drugs into a nanocarrier can improve drug stability, targeting, drug loading, and importantly, ensure that synergistic drugs work at one destination. This study uses 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) to construct a polymeric prodrug micelle, and the demethylcantharidin (DMC) is proportionally encapsulated within the micelle. Triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS), HCPT and DMC were released simultaneously from the co-delivery platform in tumor cells. DMC promotes abnormal cell division by inhibiting the synthesis of the cell cycle checkpoint kinase Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), leading to increased cell vulnerability to DNA damage, disordered replication, and death. The co-delivery platform exhibited satisfactory biosafety and antitumor efficacy in vivo. The proposed co-delivery platform may provide a valuable reference for the translation of clinical combination chemotherapy regimens into nano-drug delivery systems.

Mitochondrial Artificial K+ Channel Construction Using MPTPP@5F8 Nanoparticles for Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance via Disrupting Cellular Ion Homeostasis

Mitochondrial potassium ion channels have become a promising target for cancer therapy. However, in malignant tumors, their low expression or inhibitory regulation typically leads to undesired cancer therapy, or even induces drug resistance. Herein, this work develops an in situ mitochondria-targeted artificial K+ channel construction strategy, with the purpose to trigger cancer cell apoptosis by impairing mitochondrial ion homeostasis. Considering the fact that cancer cells have a lower membrane potential than that of normal cells, this strategy can selectively deliver artificial K+ channel molecule 5F8 to the mitochondria of cancer cells, by using a mitochondria-targeting triphenylphosphine (TPP) modified block polymer (MPTPP) as a carrier. More importantly, 5F8 can further specifically form a K+ -selective ion channel through the directional assembly of crown ethers on the mitochondrial membrane, thereby inducing mitochondrial K+ influx and disrupting ions homeostasis. Thanks to this design, mitochondrial dysfunction, including decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, downregulated antiapoptotic BCL-2 and MCL-1 protein levels, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, can further effectively induce the programmed apoptosis of multidrug-resistant cancer cells, no matter in case of pump or nonpump dependent drug resistance. In short, this mitochondria-targeted artificial K+ -selective ion channel construction strategy may be beneficial for potential drug resistance cancer therapy.

Dual Aggregations of a Near-Infrared Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen for Enhanced Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) enables "Turn-On" imaging generally through single aggregation of the AIE luminogen (AIEgen). Dual aggregrations of the AIEgen might further enhance the imaging intensity and the consequent sensitivity. Herein, we rationally designed a near-infrared (NIR) AIEgen Ac-Trp-Glu-His-Asp-Cys(StBu)-Pra(QMT)-CBT (QMT-CBT) which, upon caspase1 (Cas1) activation, underwent a CBT-Cys click reaction to form cyclic dimers QMT-Dimer (the first aggregation) and assembled into nanoparticles (the second aggregation), turning the AIE signal "on" for enhanced imaging of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Molecular dynamics simulations validated that the fluorogen QMT in QMT-NPs stacked much tighter with each other than in the single aggregates of the control compound Ac-Trp-Glu-His-Asp-Cys(tBu)-Pra(QMT)-CBT (QMT-CBT-Ctrl). Dual aggregations of QMT rendered 1.9-, 1.7-, and 1.4-fold enhanced fluorescence intensities of its single aggregation in vitro, in cells, and in a living AD mouse model, respectively. We anticipate this smart fluorogen to be used for sensitive diagnosis of AD in the clinic in the near future.

Artificial Peptide-Protein Necrosomes Promote Cell Death

The presence of disordered region or large interacting surface within proteins significantly challenges the development of targeted drugs, commonly known as the "undruggable" issue. Here, we report a heterogeneous peptide-protein assembling strategy to selectively phosphorylate proteins, thereby activating the necroptotic signaling pathway and promoting cell necroptosis. Inspired by the structures of natural necrosomes formed by receptor interacting protein kinases (RIPK) 1 and 3, the kinase-biomimetic peptides are rationally designed by incorporating natural or D -amino acids, or connecting D -amino acids in a retro-inverso (DRI) manner, leading to one RIPK3-biomimetic peptide PR3 and three RIPK1-biomimetic peptides. Individual peptides undergo self-assembly into nanofibrils, whereas mixing RIPK1-biomimetic peptides with PR3 accelerates and enhances assembly of PR3. In particular, RIPK1-biomimetic peptide DRI-PR1 exhibits reliable binding affinity with protein RIPK3, resulting in specific cytotoxicity to colon cancer cells that overexpress RIPK3. Mechanistic studies reveal the increased phosphorylation of RIPK3 induced by RIPK1-biomimetic peptides, elucidating the activation of the necroptotic signaling pathway responsible for cell death without an obvious increase in secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Our findings highlight the potential of peptide-protein hybrid aggregation as a promising approach to address the "undruggable" issue and provide alternative strategies for overcoming cancer resistance in the future.

Synthesizing biomaterials in living organisms

Living organisms fabricate biomacromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins by the self-assembly process. The research on the mechanism of biomacromolecule formation also inspires the exploration of in vivo synthesized biomaterials. By elaborate design, artificial building blocks or precursors can self-assemble or polymerize into functional biomaterials within living organisms. In recent decades, these so-called in vivo synthesized biomaterials have achieved extensive applications in cell-fate manipulation, disease theranostics, bioanalysis, cellular surface engineering, and tissue regeneration. In this review, we classify strategies for in vivo synthesis into non-covalent, covalent, and genetic types. The development of these approaches is based on the chemical principles of supramolecular chemistry and synthetic chemistry, biological cues such as enzymes and microenvironments, and the means of synthetic biology. By summarizing the design principles in detail, some insights into the challenges and opportunities in this field are provided to  enlighten further research.

Supramolecular Senolytics via Intracellular Oligomerization of Peptides in Response to Elevated Reactive Oxygen Species Levels in Aging Cells

Senolytics, which eliminate senescent cells from tissues, represent an emerging therapeutic strategy for various age-related diseases. Most senolytics target antiapoptotic proteins, which are overexpressed in senescent cells, limiting specificity and inducing severe side effects. To overcome these limitations, we constructed self-assembling senolytics targeting senescent cells with an intracellular oligomerization system. Intracellular aryl-dithiol-containing peptide oligomerization occurred only inside the mitochondria of senescent cells due to selective localization of the peptides by RGD-mediated cellular uptake into integrin αvβ3-overexpressed senescent cells and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, which can be used as a chemical fuel for disulfide formation. This oligomerization results in an artificial protein-like nanoassembly with a stable α-helix secondary structure, which can disrupt the mitochondrial membrane via multivalent interactions because the mitochondrial membrane of senescent cells has weaker integrity than that of normal cells. These three specificities (integrin αvβ3, high ROS, and weak mitochondrial membrane integrity) of senescent cells work in combination; therefore, this intramitochondrial oligomerization system can selectively induce apoptosis of senescent cells without side effects on normal cells. Significant reductions in key senescence markers and amelioration of retinal degeneration were observed after elimination of the senescent retinal pigment epithelium by this peptide senolytic in an age-related macular degeneration mouse model and in aged mice, and this effect was accompanied by improved visual function. This system provides a strategy for the treatment of age-related diseases using supramolecular senolytics.

In situ stimulus-responsive self-assembled nanomaterials for drug delivery and disease treatment

The individual motifs that respond to specific stimuli for the self-assembly of nanomaterials play important roles. In situ constructed nanomaterials are formed spontaneously without human intervention and have promising applications in bioscience. However, due to the complex physiological environment of the human body, designing stimulus-responsive self-assembled nanomaterials in vivo is a challenging problem for researchers. In this article, we discuss the self-assembly principles of various nanomaterials in response to the tissue microenvironment, cell membrane, and intracellular stimuli. We propose the applications and advantages of in situ self-assembly in drug delivery and disease diagnosis and treatment, with a focus on in situ self-assembly at the lesion site, especially in cancer. Additionally, we introduce the significance of introducing exogenous stimulation to construct self-assembly in vivo. Based on this foundation, we put forward the prospects and possible challenges in the field of in situ self-assembly. This review uncovers the relationship between the structure and properties of in situ self-assembled nanomaterials and provides new ideas for innovative drug molecular design and development to solve the problems in the targeted delivery and precision medicine.

Disulfidptosis classification of hepatocellular carcinoma reveals correlation with clinical prognosis and immune profile

A new mode of cell death, disulfidptosis, has been discovered. Clinical prognostic significance of disulfidptosis related pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). In this study, a risk score model was established based on disulfidptosis model to analyze the role of risk score in clinical prognosis, immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity and immunotherapy response. Disulfidptosis subtype were constructed based on the transcriptional profiles of 15 disulfidptosis-related genes(DRGs). All 601 samples were defined as high risk group(HRG) and low risk group(LRG) based on the disulfidptosis risk score. Drug sensitivity and response to immunotherapy were calculated by immunophenotypic score(IPS), tumor prediction, tumor immune dysfunction and rejection(TIDE). RT-qPCR was used to determine the mRNA level of disulfidptosis prognostic gene. Risk groups was identified as potential predictors of immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy responsiveness. HRG may benefit from immunotherapy. Classification is very effective in predicting the prognosis and therapeutic effect of patients, and provides a reference for accurate individualized treatment. This study suggests that new biomarkers related to Disulfidptosis can be used in clinical diagnosis of liver cancer to predict prognosis and treatment targets.

Advances in tumor nanotechnology: theragnostic implications in tumors via targeting regulated cell death

Cell death constitutes an indispensable part of the organismal balance in the human body. Generally, cell death includes regulated cell death (RCD) and accidental cell death (ACD), reflecting the intricately molecule-dependent process and the uncontrolled response, respectively. Furthermore, diverse RCD pathways correlate with multiple diseases, such as tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. Meanwhile, with the development of precision medicine, novel nano-based materials have gradually been applied in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumor patients. As the carrier, organic, inorganic, and biomimetic nanomaterials could facilitate the distribution, improve solubility and bioavailability, enhance biocompatibility and decrease the toxicity of drugs in the body, therefore, benefiting tumor patients with better survival outcomes and quality of life. In terms of the most studied cell death pathways, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, plenty of studies have explored specific types of nanomaterials targeting the molecules and signals in these pathways. However, no attempt was made to display diverse nanomaterials targeting different RCD pathways comprehensively. In this review, we elaborate on the potential mechanisms of RCD, including intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, and other cell death pathways together with corresponding nanomaterials. The thorough presentation of RCD pathways and diverse nano-based materials may provide a wider cellular and molecular landscape of tumor diagnosis and treatments.

Polymerization in living organisms

Vital biomacromolecules, such as RNA, DNA, polysaccharides and proteins, are synthesized inside cells via the polymerization of small biomolecules to support and multiply life. The study of polymerization reactions in living organisms is an emerging field in which the high diversity and efficiency of chemistry as well as the flexibility and ingeniousness of physiological environment are incisively and vividly embodied. Efforts have been made to design and develop in situ intra/extracellular polymerization reactions. Many important research areas, including cell surface engineering, biocompatible polymerization, cell behavior regulation, living cell imaging, targeted bacteriostasis and precise tumor therapy, have witnessed the elegant demeanour of polymerization reactions in living organisms. In this review, recent advances in polymerization in living organisms are summarized and presented according to different polymerization methods. The inspiration from biomacromolecule synthesis in nature highlights the feasibility and uniqueness of triggering living polymerization for cell-based biological applications. A series of examples of polymerization reactions in living organisms are discussed, along with their designs, mechanisms of action, and corresponding applications. The current challenges and prospects in this lifeful field are also proposed.

Activated aggregation strategies to construct size-increasing nanoparticles for cancer therapy

The development of novel therapeutic strategies and modalities for tumors is still one of the important areas of current scientific research. Low permeability and short residence time of drugs in solid tumor areas are important reasons for the low efficiency of existing therapeutic strategies. Typically, nanoparticles with large size displayed enhanced residence time but low permeability. Therefore, to prolong the retention time of materials in solid tumors, size-increasing strategies have been developed to directly generate large-scale nanoparticles using small molecular compounds or increase the size of small nanoparticles in solid tumor areas. In this review, we summarize recently reported activatable aggregation systems that could be activated by cancer-related substances for cancer therapy and classify them by the mechanisms that lead to aggregation. In the end, we propose some potential challenges briefly from the view of our opinion. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Morphological Transformation and In Situ Polymerization of Caspase-3 Responsive Diacetylene-Containing Lipidated Peptide Amphiphile for Self-Amplified Cooperative Antitumor Therapy

In order to artificially regulate cell behaviors, intracellular polymerization as an emerging chemical technique has attracted much attention. Yet, it is still a challenge to achieve effective intracellular polymerization to conquer tumors in the complex cellular environment. Herein, this work develops a tumor-targeting and caspase-3 responsive nanoparticle composed of a diacetylene-containing lipidated peptide amphiphile and mitochondria-targeting photosensitizer (C3), which undergoes nanoparticle-to-nanofiber transformation and efficient in situ polymerization triggered by photodynamic treatment and activation of caspase-3. The locational nanofibers on the mitochondria membranes lead to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) burst and self-amplified circulation, offering persistent high oxidative stress to induce cell apoptosis. This study provides a strategy for greatly enhanced antitumor therapeutic efficacy through mtROS burst and self-amplified circulation induced by intracellular transformation and in situ polymerization.

Enzyme-instructed morphology transformation of mitochondria-targeting peptide for the selective eradication of osteosarcoma

The treatment of osteosarcoma involves an adjuvant therapy that combines surgery and chemotherapy. However, considering that children are the main victims of osteosarcoma, replacing such a harsh treatment with a soft but powerful method that ensures a complete cure while having no adverse effects is highly desirable. To achieve this aim, we have developed a supramolecular therapeutic strategy based on morphology-transformable mitochondria-targeting peptides for the eradication of osteosarcoma with enhanced selectivity and reduced side effects. A newly designed micelle-forming amphiphilic peptide, l-Mito-FFYp, consisting of a phosphate substrate for the biomarker enzyme of osteosarcoma alkaline phosphatase (ALP), disassembles in response to the ALP enzyme in the cell membrane to generate positively charged l-Mito-FFY molecules, which diffuse inside the targeted cell and self-assemble to form nanostructures specifically inside the mitochondria to induce cell apoptosis.

Spatiotemporal Self-Assembly of Peptide Amphiphiles by Carbonic Anhydrase IX-Targeting Induces Cancer-Lysosomal Membrane Disruption

To achieve spatiotemporal control, an enzyme-instructed self-assembly system is widely used, but this approach typically has a small effect on cellular fate. In this study, we show that the intralysosomal assembly by a carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX)-targeting peptide amphiphile (Pep-AT) can control cellular fate with a low therapeutic dose by tuning the surface charge based on pH change. Pep-AT self-assembles into a fibrous aggregate with a negative surface charge in an extracellular environment near CAIX. During endocytosis, it changes into a nanofiber with a positive surface charge at the lysosome. Then, it can disrupt the lysosomal membrane and induce cellular apoptosis. This study demonstrates that a spatiotemporal assembly induced by a cancer enzyme and specific organelle can control the cellular fate of cancer.

One-pot fabrication of a polydopamine-based nanoplatform for GSH triggered trimodal ROS-amplification for cancer therapy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) based nanoplatforms have been considered as attractive and feasible candidates for cancer therapy. However, the activated endogenous antioxidant defense of cancer cells in response to the ROS attack greatly hinders their therapeutic efficacy. Although cancer-specific ROS amplification strategies have been widely explored, most of them suffer from tedious synthesis procedures and complex components, which will bring about undesired side effects and unsatisfactory results. Herein, we design a cancer-specific oxidative stress amplification nanomedicine (CA-Cu-PDA), which is simply fabricated through integrating the glutathione (GSH) responsive/depleting nanocarrier of copper-polydopamine (Cu-PDA) nanoparticles with a ROS-generating drug cinnamaldehyde (CA) via a facile one-pot polymerization route. It is verified that GSH could trigger the breakage of CA-Cu-PDA networks and the subsequent release of both copper ions and CA in cancer cells. The released copper ions efficiently oxidize GSH, thereby weakening the antioxidant system of cancer cells and increasing the ROS levels. On the other hand, extra ROS are generated by the reduced copper ions through a Fenton reaction, so that a synergistic ROS therapy with CA is achieved. Consequently, oxidative stress is specifically increased within cancer cells, leading to efficient cancer cell apoptosis, significant tumor suppression and minimized side effects. Such an ingenious structure realizes the interlocking cooperation and full utilization of each component's function, presenting promising perspectives for nanomedicine design.

In Situ Coassembly Induced Mitochondrial Aggregation Activated Drug-Resistant Tumor Treatment

Macrocyclic supramolecular coassembly is the current research hotspot for tumor treatment. Herein, we report a multivalent supramolecular coassembly strategy, which not only acquires long-time phosphorescent labeling of mitochondrial aggregation but also strongly enhances chemotherapeutic efficiency against drug-resistant tumors. The mitochondrial aggregation depends on cucurbit[8]uril-mediated cross-linkage of the hyaluronic acid polymer grafted by 4-bromophenylpyridium and mitochondrion-targeting peptide (HABMitP) residing on the mitochondria, taking advantage of the 2:1 homoternary host-guest complexation between cucurbit[8]uril and 4-bromophenylpyridium with an extraordinary binding constant (6.24 × 10¹² M^-2). In cisplatin-resistant MCF-7 tumor cells, the assembly induced mitochondrial aggregation substantially enhances the antitumor efficiency of cisplatin, with the ratio of apoptotic cells increasing from 43% to 96% compared to treatment with cisplatin alone, and thoroughly inhibits tumor growth in vivo. This study provides a novel way for biological phosphorescent imaging and treatment of drug-resistant cancers.