Self-assembled thioether-bridged paclitaxel-dihydroartemisinin prodrug for amplified antitumor efficacy-based cancer ferroptotic-chemotherapy

Biomater Sci. 2023 May 2;11(9):3321-3334. doi: 10.1039/d2bm02032g.

Abstract

Ferroptosis has been proposed as one form of iron-dependent cell death, overgeneration of high-toxicity hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) tumor sites via Fenton reactions induced cell membrane damage. However, the insufficient intracellular concentrations of both iron and H2O2 limited the anticancer performance of ferroptosis. In this study, ROS-sensitive prodrug nanoassemblies composed of a PEG2000-ferrous compound and a single thioether bond bridged dihydroartemisinin-paclitaxel prodrug were constructed, which fully tapped ex/endogenous iron, ferroptosis inducers, and chemotherapeutic agents. Following cellular uptake, the intracellular oxidizing environment accelerated the self-destruction of nanoassemblies and triggered drug release. In addition to the chemotherapeutic effect, the activated dihydroartemisinin was capable of acting as a toxic ˙OH amplifier via the reinforced Fenton reaction, simultaneously depleting intracellular GSH, as well as inducing glutathione peroxidase 4 inactivation, further enhancing ferroptosis-dependent cancer cell proliferation inhibition. Meanwhile, the ROS generation-inductive and cell cycle arrest effect from the paclitaxel augmented synergetic ferroptotic-chemotherapy of cancer. Thus, the prodrug integrating dihydroartemisinin with paclitaxel via a single thioether bond represents a potent nanoplatform to exert amplified ferroptotic-chemotherapy for improved anticancer efficacy.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Iron
  • Neoplasms*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use
  • Prodrugs* / chemistry
  • Prodrugs* / pharmacology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sulfides

Substances

  • Paclitaxel
  • artenimol
  • Prodrugs
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sulfides
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Iron