Complex of nanocarriers based on the metal polyphenol network: multi-modal synergistic inhibition of tumor cell proliferation by inducing ferroptosis and photodynamic effect

The metal-polyphenol network has been widely employed in the field of nanodrugs delivery due to its pH-responsiveness. Based on this network, the anti-tumor effect can be further improved by combining with various tumor treatment methods. Herein, an iron-tannic acid (Fe(III)TA) network structure formed by self-assembly of tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+ was designed as a nanocarrier and loaded with sorafenib (SRF) and disodium protoporphyrin IX (NAPP). After the nanoparticles enter the tumor cells, the Fe(III)TA network was cracked due to the intracellular pH of the tumor cells. The release of SRF from nanoparticles can induce ferroptosis, and photosensitizer NAPP loaded on nanoparticles can be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Because of the reducibility of TA, the simultaneously released Fe3+ was reduced to Fe2+ under the action of excessive TA, which can be used in the Fenton reaction to further promote ferroptosis and PDT. Therefore, the metal-polyphenol network synergizes two anti-tumor methods to enhance the growth inhibitory effect of tumor cells and also provides a new idea for the anti-tumor nano-response platform.