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Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
Published on: March 15, 2024
NIR-responsive copper nanoliposome composites for cascaded ferrotherapy via ferroptosis actived ICD and IFN-γ
Junrui Wang1, Wenli Zhang1, Zhuoyan Xie2
1Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging & Department of Ultrasound, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, PR China.
Abstract:
Metallic biomaterials activate tumor ferroptosis by increasing oxidative stress, but their efficacy is severely limited in tumor microenvironment. Although interferon gamma (IFN-γ) can promote tumor ferroptosis sensitivity by inhibiting the antioxidant system and promoting lipid accumulation, this effect limited by the lack of IFN-γ accumulation in tumors. Herein, we report a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive HCuS nanocomposite (HCuS-PE@TSL-tlyp-1) that can stimulate immunogenic cell death (ICD)-mediated IFN-γ secretion through exogenous oxidative stress, thereby achieving cascaded ferrotherapy by mutually reinforcing ferroptosis and systemic immunity. Upon laser irradiation, the dissolution of the thermal coating, and the introduction of Cu ions and piperazine-erastin (PE) simultaneously induce oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS)/lipid peroxide (LPO) accumulation and deplete cystine-glutamate transporter (xCT)/GSH. The onset of oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis is thus achieved, and ICD is triggered, significantly promoting cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) infiltration for IFN-γ secretion. Furthermore, IFN-γ induces immunogenic tumor ferroptosis by inhibiting xCT-antioxidant pathways and enhancing the ACSL4-fatty acid recruitment pathway, which further promotes sensitivity to ferroptosis in cells. These HCuS nanocomposites combined with aPD-L1 effectively in inhibiting tumor metastasis and recurrence. Importantly, these cascade ferrotherapy results broadens the application of HCuS biomaterials.

