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Autophagy-Dependent Apoptosis Induced by Apoferritin-Cu(II) Nanoparticles in Multidrug-Resistant Colon Cancer Cells.

Kai XiongYing ZhouJohannes KargesKejie DuJinchao ShenMingwei LinFangmian WeiJunfeng KouYu ChenLiangnian JiHui Chao
Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces (2021)
Chemotherapy continues to be the most commonly applied strategy for cancer. Despite the impressive clinical success obtained with several drugs, increasing numbers of (multi)drug-resistant tumors are reported. To overcome this shortcoming, novel drug candidates and delivery systems are urgently needed. Herein, a therapeutic copper polypyridine complex encapsulated in natural nanocarrier apoferritin is reported. The generated nanoparticles showed higher cytotoxicity toward various (drug-resistant) cancer cell lines than noncancerous cells. The study of the mechanism revealed that the compound triggers cell autophagy-dependent apoptosis. Promisingly, upon injection of the nanodrug conjugate into the bloodstream of a mouse model bearing a multidrug-resistant colon tumor, a strong tumor growth inhibition effect was observed. To date, this is the first study describing the encapsulation of a copper complex in apoferritin that acts by autophagy-dependent apoptosis.
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