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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
Published on: March 15, 2024
Integrated design and application of metal-organic frameworks in ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy
Hong Ma1, Fangjun Huang2, Yutong Chen3
1Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Cancer is the most malignant disease in the world, and there is an urgent need to explore new and efficient therapeutic approaches. Ferroptosis, a new form of cell death, is characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide, which has broad application scenarios in antagonizing the resistance to traditional cell death and enhancing the eradication of tumor cells. However, the limited ROS in cancer cells and their inherent antioxidant substrates such as glutathione counteract ferroptosis. In addition, glutathione peroxidase 4 and ferroptosis suppressor 1 confer ferroptosis resistance. With the gradual advancement of ferroptosis research and the rise of emerging technologies such as nanomaterials, targeted drugs and therapeutics for tumor cell ferroptosis show great potential. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their porous structure and large surface area, are one of the most attractive multimodal therapeutic platforms available. Hence, this review summarizes the recent advances in the design and application of various MOFs for ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy. Based on the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis regulation and the pathways of MOF-mediated ferroptosis, we generalize the strategies of surface modifications to MOFs and highlight the combination of various MOF-based ferroptosis strategies with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and others. Moreover, we illustrate the current state of research on the link between ferroptosis and cuproptosis.
Insights
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer promising strategies for cancer therapy by inducing ferroptosis, a cell death pathway. This review explores MOF designs and applications to overcome cancer
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality globally, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death, presents a potential avenue for cancer treatment by overcoming resistance to conventional therapies.
- Cancer cells possess intrinsic mechanisms, like glutathione and GPX4, that confer resistance to ferroptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.
- To explore MOF design strategies and their application in inducing ferroptosis.
- To discuss the combination of MOF-based ferroptosis strategies with other therapeutic modalities.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of MOF applications in ferroptosis research.
- Analysis of MOF structural properties and surface modification techniques.
- Examination of MOF-mediated ferroptosis mechanisms and synergistic therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- MOFs, owing to their unique porous structures, serve as versatile platforms for multimodal cancer therapy.
- Various MOF designs and surface modifications can effectively induce ferroptosis in cancer cells.
- Combining MOF-based ferroptosis induction with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy shows enhanced anti-cancer effects.
Conclusions:
- MOFs hold significant potential for developing targeted ferroptosis-inducing cancer therapeutics.
- Further research into MOF-based ferroptosis strategies, including combinations with other therapies, is warranted.
- Understanding the interplay between ferroptosis and cuproptosis may reveal new therapeutic targets.
