Iron based nanotherapeutics for ferroptosis-induced cancer therapy

Traditional anti-cancer treatments are far from satisfactory. There is an urgent to combine new therapeutics with traditional treatments to improve anti-cancer effectiveness. Ferroptosis is a new type of iron dependent non-apoptotic cell death could still offer benefits to patients who failed in apoptosis and necroptosis induction treatment. Iron plays a vital role during ferroptosis induction. While iron is a double-edged sword in cancer treatment, tumor specific distribution of iron is especially important. Nanotechnology is an efficient way to help drugs targeting distribution. We intended to review the latest progress in ferroptosis and iron based nanotherapeutics. First, the relationship between ferroptosis and iron metabolism was reviewed briefly to demonstrate the central role of iron in ferroptosis induction. Second, the latest progress of iron-based nanotechnology was presented and discussed according to the different designs. Finally, the future expectations of iron based nanotherapeutics for ferroptosis were spotlighted.