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ROS‐Mediated Apoptosis and Anticancer Effect Achieved by Artesunate and Auxiliary Fe(II) Released from Ferriferous Oxide‐Containing Recombinant Apoferritin
Author(s) -
Ji Peng,
Huang Haiqin,
Yuan Shirui,
Wang Le,
Wang Siqi,
Chen Yiwei,
Feng Na,
Veroniaina Hanitrarimalala,
Wu Ziheng,
Wu Zhenghong,
Qi Xiaole
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201900911
Subject(s) - nanocarriers , apoptosis , reactive oxygen species , in vivo , cancer cell , intracellular , artesunate , chemistry , pharmacology , anticancer drug , biophysics , materials science , cancer research , nanoparticle , drug , nanotechnology , biochemistry , cancer , biology , immunology , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , malaria , plasmodium falciparum
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated apoptosis is considered a crucial therapeutic mechanisms for artesunate (AS). As an Fe(II)‐dependent drug, the anticancer effect of AS is often limited due to insufficient Fe(II) concentration in targeted cells. To overcome this problem, a recombinant apoferritin nanocarrier containing ferriferous oxide (M‐HFn) is constructed to produce auxiliary exogenous Fe(II) when delivering AS to cancer cells. Here, the newly fabricated AS‐loaded M‐HFn nanoparticles (M‐HFn@AS NPs) can significantly improve the tumor‐specific targeting and intracellular uptake efficiency of AS in human cervical carcinoma cells. After being captured in the acidic cavity of endosomes, M‐HFn@AS NPs can simultaneously release Fe(II) and allow AS to activate satisfactory ROS‐mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate that M‐HFn@AS NPs can selectively accumulate in tumors to efficiently inhibit tumor growth. Thus, M‐HFn@AS NPs are a promising system to enhance the therapeutic effect of Fe(II)‐dependent drugs.