UCNPs@PVP‐Hemin‐GOx@CaCO3 Nanoplatform for Ferroptosis Self‐Amplification Combined with Calcium Overload

UPHGC NPs achieved TEM-activated calcium overload and ferroptosis self-amplified tumor therapy. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated the excellent tumor inhibition effect of nanocomposites, indicating the great potential of UPHGC NPs as a tumor therapeutic agent, and paving the way for exploring the application of multifunctional ferroptosis self-amplification and acid-responsive nanocomposites in biomedicine.

Abstract

Due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME), current tumor treatments cannot achieve satisfactory results. A nanocomposite material, UCNPs@PVP-Hemin-GOx@CaCO₃ (UPHGC NPs) is developed that responds to the TME and controls release to achieve multimodal synergistic therapy in tumor tissues. UPHGC NPs mediate photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and starvation therapy (ST) synergistically, ultimately inducing self-amplification of ferroptosis. The Hemin loaded in UPHGC NPs exhibits peroxidase (POD) activity, which can react with H₂O₂ to produce ·OH (CDT) and generate the maximum amount of ·O₂ ⁻ (PDT) under UV excitation from upconversion materials. Hemin can also consume glutathione (GSH), downregulate glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and combine with PDT/CDT to induce lipid peroxidation (LPO), leading to ferroptosis. In addition, Glucose oxidase (GOx) provides sufficient H₂O₂ for the ·OH production, amplifying ROS generation to further enhance ferroptosis. The gluconic acid produced by GOx during the ST process synergizes with the TME's acidic conditions to promote Ca²⁺ release, induce intracellular calcium overload, enhance oxidative stress, lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately kill tumor cells through mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, the externally mineralized calcium carbonate can prevent premature drug release in normal tissues.