Calcium overload, characterized by an abnormal cytoplasm accumulation of free calcium ions (Ca2+), is a widely recognized cause of damage in numerous cell types and even of cell death. This undesirable destructive process can become a new tool applicable to cancer treatment. Herein, on the basis of the unique biological effect of Ca2+ we demonstrate a highly efficient strategy for tumor therapy by utilizing pH-sensitive sodium-hyaluronate-modified calcium peroxide nanoparticles (SH-CaO2 NPs). These NPs create an artificial calcium overloading stress in tumor cells, which is responsible for cell death. Notably, the killing effect is not limited to tumor types or hypoxic cells, and normal cells are more tolerant of the adverse influence of NPs than tumor cells. The Ca2+ enrichment also increases the likelihood of tumor calcification, which could contribute to in vivo tumor inhibition and facilitate medical imaging to monitor the treatment efficacy.
[1]Chinese Acad Sci, Shanghai Inst Ceram, State Key Lab High Performance Ceram & Superfine, Shanghai 200050, Peoples R China;
[2]Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China;
[3]East China Normal Univ, Sch Chem & Mol Engn, Shanghai Key Lab Green Chem & Chem Proc, Shanghai 200062, Peoples R China;
[4]Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Chem, Singapore 117543, Singapore;
[5]Fudan Univ, Huashan Hosp, Dept Radiol, Shanghai 200040, Peoples R China
(8.0+极速模式)