Magnet-Responsive Nanomaterials Trigger Ferroptosis and Cellular Senescence Modulation via p53/SLC7A11 Axis for Tumor

Xiaorui Wang1, Mengping Zhang1, Hao Jiang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Flexible Electronics (Future Technologies), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing, China.

PubMed

Insights

This study introduces a novel nanotherapeutic platform that combines magnetic nanoparticles and a drug to induce cancer cell senescence and ferroptosis, enhancing tumor treatment efficacy. The approach targets the p53/SLC7A11 axis for selective cancer cell apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cancer Therapy

Background:

  • Cellular senescence offers therapeutic potential but faces challenges with conventional agents.
  • Existing pro-senescence therapies lack selectivity and can trigger apoptosis or resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel nanotherapeutic platform for enhanced tumor treatment.
  • To target the p53/SLC7A11 axis to regulate ferroptosis and induce senescence.
  • To overcome limitations of conventional pro-senescence agents.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with MDM2-p53 inhibitor APG-115 into a nanotherapeutic platform (FAB).
  • Exposure to alternating magnetic field (AMF) to induce ferroptosis and DNA damage.
  • Inhibition of MDM2-p53 interaction to stabilize p53 signaling.
  • Analysis of p53-mediated repression of SLC7A11, leading to ferroptosis and senescence.

Main Results:

  • The FAB platform induced lipid peroxide generation and DNA damage, activating p53.
  • Elevated p53 repressed SLC7A11, causing glutathione depletion and enhanced ferroptosis.
  • A feedback loop exacerbated DNA damage, driving irreversible senescence and thermal susceptibility in senescent cells.
  • Selective apoptosis of senescent tumor cells was achieved under AMF.

Conclusions:

  • Elucidation of the crosstalk between p53 activation and ferroptosis in mediating senescence.
  • Demonstration of a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for enhanced tumor treatment.
  • The FAB platform offers a selective approach to induce senescence and apoptosis in cancer cells.