journal article·2026-06Open access

Liquid Metal Nanotransformers for Drug‐Resistant Pan‐Cancer Therapy in Patient‐Derived Organoids

Xiaojie Yuan, Xuelin Wang, Zhongyao Chen, Shuo Wang, Weining Gao, Ziyi Chen, Runyang Li, Cheng Hao, Lei Zhang, Qiongqiong Zhang, Ke Zhang, Mei Yu, Qian Liu, Jingxuan Wang, Huiping Li, Simpkins Fiona, Jing Liu, Qiang Liu, Peng Liu, Yawei Hu

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 36

Abstract

ABSTRACT Drug resistance remains a major obstacle in cancer therapy, and direct mechanical disruption of cellular structures offers a promising strategy for overcoming it, highlighting the urgent clinical need for an effective and universal pan‐cancer treatment. Here, a cryo‐responsive liquid metal (LM) nanotransformer platform is developed. It undergoes dramatic deformation under freezing, physically disrupting lysosomal membranes and inducing potent cytotoxicity, particularly against drug‐resistant tumors, thus offering a broadly applicable pan‐cancer treatment. To enhance deformation efficiency of LM transformers, bismuth (Bi) is incorporated into gallium (Ga) to form biphasic Bi‐Ga alloy particles, which reduces Ga supercooling and promotes crystallization during freezing. The biosafety of LM particles is evaluated across multiple organoid models upon maximum contact. Based on 11 tumor organoid models including lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, the significant anti‐tumor effects of LM‐assisted cryotherapy are demonstrated, particularly Bi‐Ga combined with chemotherapy illustrating the strongest anti‐tumor efficacy. Transcriptomic analysis reveals LM anti‐tumor mechanism on multiple cancers with altering gene expression related to necroptosis, metabolic regulation, and cellular stress. In addition, tumors receiving LM cryo‐treatment exhibited hallmark features of immunogenic cell death. In immune‐competent drug‐resistant lung organoids, Bi‐Ga cryo‐treatment modulates tumor microenvironment and enhances immunogenicity. Collectively, this study establishes a universal LM nanotransformer‐enabled pan‐cancer strategy, offering a clinically viable and drug‐free approach for overcoming drug resistance.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Nanowire Synthesis and Applications · Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics

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

Affiliations

Changping National Laboratory Beijing China

Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China

School of Engineering Medicine Beihang University Beijing China

School of Biomedical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China

Center of International Innovation For Technology and Science Shenzhen China

Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China

Peking University International Hospital Beijing China

School of Clinical Medicine Tsinghua University (Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital) Beijing China

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine Tsinghua University Beijing China

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases Beijing China

School of Basic Medical Sciences Tsinghua University Beijing China

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Capital Health Research and Development of Special Fund

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