Metabolic Nanoregulators Induce Ferroptosis and Change Metabolite Flow to Reverse Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Aberrant energy and substance metabolic pathways of tumor cells critically support tumor cell proliferation by hijacking the resources from nonmalignant cells, thereby establishing a metabolite flow favorable to tumor progression. This metabolic adaptation of tumor cells further modulates the immune landscape, ultimately creating a tumor microenvironment characterized by drug resistance and immunosuppression. The synergistic regulation of energy and substance metabolic pathways might be a good antitumor therapeutic paradigm. However, due to the metabolic convergence, it is crucial to selectively modulate the aberrant metabolism of tumor cells without compromising the functionality of other cells. Small-molecule drugs have the ability to target a wide range of biomolecules for antitumor therapy, but their application is limited by undesirable toxicities. Constructing nanodrug delivery systems can improve their properties and allow for the inclusion of multiple drugs, thereby exerting synergistic antitumor effects. In this study, we developed a two-drug codelivery system using drugs-conjugated multibranched polymers to modulate tumor cell metabolism by exploiting synthetic lethal pathways for safe and effective antitumor therapy. By delivery of adapalene and erastin simultaneously through nanoparticles, the material and energy metabolism of tumor cells can be regulated. This nanoparticle construction achieves tumor tissue targeting and responsive drug release, alters metabolite flow within tumor cells, and effectively kills tumor cells. Additionally, the nanoparticles can reverse the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment, starting from single-cell regulation to whole-lesion control.