Recent Advances in Nanomaterial-Mediated Cell Death for Cancer Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Nanomedicine shows promise in cancer therapy by disrupting tumor redox homeostasis and inducing oxidative stress.
• Tumor cells possess intrinsic self-protection mechanisms that limit the efficacy of conventional anticancer treatments.
• Exploring diverse programmed cell death pathways (apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, cuproptosis, ferroptosis) is crucial for innovative cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review seven distinct cell death modalities mediated by nanomaterials for cancer treatment.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying these cell death pathways and their induction by nanomedicine.
• To discuss the preparation of nanomaterials and their therapeutic mechanisms in inducing cancer cell death.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of nanomedicine-based cancer cell death induction.
• Detailed analysis of seven cell death modalities: apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, cuprotosis, immunogenic cell death, and autophagy.
• Examination of nanomaterial design, preparation, and mechanisms of action in triggering cell death.

Main Results:

• Nanomaterials can act as carriers for cell death inducers or as direct therapeutic agents.
• Seven distinct cell death modalities (apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, cuprotosis, ICD, autophagy) can be triggered by nanomaterials.
• Understanding these mechanisms is key to developing effective nanomedicine-based cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

• Nanomaterial-mediated induction of diverse cell death pathways offers a promising strategy for overcoming tumor resistance.
• Further research into the design and application of nanomedicines targeting specific cell death mechanisms will advance cancer therapy.
• This review provides a foundation for future developments in nanomedicine for innovative cancer treatment.