Intracellular regulation of zinc by metal–organic framework-mediated genome editing for prostate cancer therapy

gene to prevent the efflux of zinc in prostate cancer cells. Due to the high affinity between DUPA and the prostate-specific membrane antigen, Cas9@ZIF8-DUPA nanocomplexes exhibit excellent prostate tumor-targeting ability. The internalization and degradation of Cas9@ZIF8-DUPA not only release free zinc and Cas9 editors, but also reduce zinc efflux through Cas9-mediated genome editing that disables the function of ZNT1. As a result, Cas9@ZIF8-DUPA nanocomplexes exhibit significant antitumor activity and extended survival in the mouse model bearing prostate tumors. The current platform offers an alternative therapeutic strategy and holds tremendous translational potential as an anticancer nanomedicine for prostate cancer treatment.