journal article·2026-08

Plant‐Derived Thylakoids Potentiate Copper‐Mediated Multimodal Cell Death via Hypoxia Alleviation for Synergistic Antitumor Therapy

Wei Liu, Jiaxin Wu, Zhou Lan, Xinqi Ma, Xiang Sun, Guowang Cheng, Yumiao Yang, Bowen Li, Zhen Tian, Jiaxian Yu, Zhiyang Zhu, Qibu Luo, Zhenzi Lin, Yingluo Chen, Yuyue Zhao, Tongkai Chen, Guangtao Yu

Small· Volume 22· Issue 43
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cuproptosis is a copper‐dependent programmed cell death mechanism characterized by mitochondrial copper accumulation, which leads to protein aggregation and proteotoxic stress, offering considerable anti‐cancer potential. However, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) activates HIF‐1α signaling, promoting glycolytic metabolism and reducing sensitivity to cuproptosis. To overcome this limitation, we designed TC@UN/G, a system comprising a metal–organic framework (UN) for copper delivery, oxygen‐generating thylakoids (T) to alleviate hypoxia via photosynthesis, and a thermosensitive F127 hydrogel (G) for localized sustained release through peritumoral injection. Upon peritumoral injection and light illumination, thylakoids produced oxygen, relieving hypoxia and restoring mitochondrial function. This sensitized tumor cells to cuproptosis and concurrently triggered ferroptosis and immunogenic cell death, thereby activating antitumor immunity. In the cancer model, TC@UN/G+IL suppressed tumor growth and remodeled the TME. This approach offers a holistic strategy for solid tumor therapy by modulating the TME, potentiating cuproptosis, and activating the immune response.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism · Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis

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

Affiliations

School of Stomatology Stomatological Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China

Science and Technology Innovation Center Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Guangzhou China

The Eighth Affiliated Hospital Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan Guangdong China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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