FeS₂-modified MXene nanocomposite platform for efficient PTT/CDT/TDT integration through enhanced GSH consumption

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Tumor hypoxia and glutathione (GSH) hinder reactive oxygen species (ROS) anti-cancer therapies.
• Developing strategies to overcome these tumor microenvironment challenges is crucial for effective cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel nanoplatform, Ti3C2/FeS2-AIPH@BSA (TFAB), for enhanced anti-cancer therapy.
• To address limitations in ROS-based cancer treatment by increasing GSH consumption and ROS production.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of mesoporous FeS2 and loading with AIPH.
• Assembly of Ti3C2/FeS2-AIPH@BSA (TFAB) nanocomposites via self-assembly.
• Evaluation of TFAB for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), thermodynamic therapy (TDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT).

Main Results:

• TFAB effectively generated hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) via FeS2 and consumed GSH, enhancing CDT.
• TFAB stimulated AIPH decomposition under laser irradiation to produce alkyl radicals (˙R) for TDT.
• Synergistic PTT, CDT, and TDT led to controlled AIPH release, ROS generation, GSH consumption, and temperature elevation, resulting in enhanced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and tumor inhibition.

Conclusions:

• TFAB is an innovative nanoplatform addressing limitations in free radical-based cancer therapy.
• The synergistic therapeutic strategy of PTT, CDT, and TDT shows significant promise for tumor treatment.
• TFAB nanoplatforms demonstrate enhanced tumor growth inhibition through combined therapeutic effects.