Ferrocene-Based Polymeric Nanoparticles Carrying Doxorubicin for Oncotherapeutic Combination of Chemotherapy and Ferroptosis

Mono-chemotherapy has significant side effects and unsatisfactory efficacy, limiting its clinical application. Therefore, a combination of multiple treatments is becoming more common in oncotherapy. Chemotherapy combined with the induction of ferroptosis is a potential new oncotherapy. Furthermore, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) can improve the antitumor efficacy and decrease the toxicity of drugs. Herein, a polymeric NP, mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox, is synthesized to decrease the toxicity of doxorubicin (Dox) and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy by combining it with the induction of ferroptosis. First, mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox is oxidized by endogenous H 2 O 2 and releases Dox, which leads to an increase of H 2 O 2 by breaking the redox balance. The Fe(II) group of ferrocene converts H 2 O 2 into ·OH, inducing subsequent ferroptosis. Furthermore, glutathione peroxidase 4, a biomarker of ferroptosis, is suppressed and the lipid peroxidation level is elevated in cells incubated with mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox compared to those treated with Dox alone, indicating ferroptosis induction by mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox. In vivo, the antitumor efficacy of mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox is higher than that of free Dox. Moreover, the loss of body weight in mice treated mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox is lower than in those treated with free Dox, indicating that mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox is less toxic than free Dox. In conclusion, mPEG -b- PPLGFc@Dox not only has higher antitumor efficacy but it reduces the damage to normal tissue.