journal article·2026-06-15Open access

Tumor Microenvironment‐Responsive Nanoreactor Induces Disulfidptosis in Pancreatic Cancer via Metabolic Interference and Redox Catalysis

Rui Fu, Qing Li, Guanzhong Zhao, Qingyan Gao, Huantong Chen, Khemayanto Hidayat, Jiaying Xu, Liqiang Qin, Chunhong Hu, Yu Chong, Su Hu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pancreatic cancer exhibits extensive metabolic reprogramming that supports rapid progression and therapeutic resistance, making metabolic vulnerabilities attractive targets for intervention. Here, a tumor microenvironment‐responsive nanoreactor (Pht@HMnO 2 ‐HA) is designed to induce disulfidptosis in pancreatic cancer through coordinated metabolic interference and redox catalysis. Following CD44‐mediated tumor targeting and cellular internalization, the nanoreactor's responsive self‐optimization within the tumor microenvironment enables localized release of phloretin, suppressing glucose uptake and pentose phosphate pathway activity and thereby limiting intracellular reducing‐power generation. In parallel, the nanoreactor consumes intracellular glutathione and amplifies oxidative stress via MnO 2 ‐mediated redox reactions, thereby depleting antioxidant defenses. Together, these processes impose reducing‐power deprivation and disrupt redox homeostasis, leading to cystine accumulation, disulfide stress, actin cytoskeleton collapse, and disulfidptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, degradation‐associated Mn 2 + release provides activatable T1‐weighted MRI contrast, enabling noninvasive visualization of intratumoral nanoreactor activation and therapeutic progression. Collectively, this work establishes a theranostic nanoreactor that exploits coupled metabolic and redox vulnerabilities to induce disulfidptosis, offering a mechanistically grounded strategy for precision therapy in pancreatic cancer.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism · Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

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

Affiliations

Department of Radiology The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou China

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions Soochow University Suzhou China

Department of Interventional Radiology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan China

Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health Soochow University Suzhou China

Funding

Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions

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