Advances in Ferroptosis-Inducing Agents by Targeted Delivery System in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Currently, cancer remains one of the most significant threats to human health. Treatment of most cancers remains challenging, despite the implementation of diverse therapies in clinical practice. In recent years, research on the mechanism of ferroptosis has presented novel perspectives for cancer treatment. Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process caused by lipid peroxidation of membrane unsaturated fatty acids catalyzed by iron ions. The rapid development of bio-nanotechnology has generated considerable interest in exploiting iron-induced cell death as a new therapeutic target against cancer. This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements at the intersection of iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. In this respect, the mechanism of iron-induced cell death and its relation to cancer are summarized. Furthermore, the feasibility of a nano-drug delivery system based on iron-induced cell death for cancer treatment is introduced and analyzed. Secondly, strategies for inducing iron-induced cell death using nanodrug delivery technology are discussed, including promoting Fenton reactions, inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4, reducing low glutathione levels, and inhibiting system Xc − . Additionally, the article explores the potential of combined treatment strategies involving iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. Finally, the application prospects and challenges of iron-induced nanoagents for cancer treatment are discussed.

Ferroptosis: emerging roles in lung cancer and potential implications in biological compounds

“…On the contrary, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), such as saturated fat palmitic acid (SFA), is incorporated into phospholipids in an ACSL3 dependent manner through stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1). This binding interferes with the formation of PUFA phospholipids and protects cells from cell death caused by ferroptosis ( Xiang et al, 2024 ).…”

Strategic design and development of a siderophore mimic: pioneering anticancer therapy via ROS generation and ferroptosis

“…These methods include the utilization of small molecules such as erastin, sorafenib (SRF), and sulfasalazine (SAS), or shMTHFD2 and shGPX4 plasmids those target related genes. 26–30 However, existing ferroptosis inducers encounter challenges due to their low water solubility and instability, limiting their applicability in cancer therapy. 31 Moreover, hurdles in clinical translation include their limited therapeutic efficacy, notable side effects, and difficulties in detection.…”