journal article·2025

Calcium ion nanomodulators induce pyroptosis for tumor immunotherapy

Fenggang Qi, Yuedong Guo, Yangxian Xu, Yanyan Liu, Ping Hu, Jianlin Shi

Nanoscale· Volume 17· Issue 44
Publisher page

Abstract

Pyroptosis is a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy, but nanomaterial-based pyroptosis inducers remain underexplored. Here, we developed a pH-responsive calcium nanomodulator by loading curcumin onto ultrathin Ca/Al layered double hydroxide nanosheets (LDH-CUR). LDH-CUR induces pyroptosis via mitochondrial calcium overload. Upon internalization by tumor cells, it degrades in acidic environments, releasing calcium ions while curcumin blocks calcium efflux, leading to calcium surges. This triggers reactive oxygen species production, cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation. Caspase-3 cleaves gasdermin E (GSDME), forming transmembrane pores and inducing pyroptosis. Pyroptosis releases inflammatory molecules, activating robust adaptive immunity to target primary tumors and suppress metastases. LDH-CUR demonstrates a novel approach to combining pyroptosis induction with immunotherapy, offering potential for nanomaterial-based cancer treatments.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Inflammasome and immune disorders · Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Curcumin's Biomedical Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructures, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Ding-Xi Road, Shanghai 200050, P. R. China

Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China

Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Medical School of Tongji University, 38 Yun-xin Road, Shanghai, 200435, P.R. China

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China

Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P.R. China

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader · National Key Research and Development Program of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences

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