Cuproptosis Nanomedicine: Clinical challenges and opportunities for anti-tumor therapy

Cuproptosis is a type of programmed cell death involving copper, distinct from other cell death such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. The burgeoning field of nanotechnology has propelled the advancement of anti-tumor nanomedicines based on copper. The discovery of cuproptosis systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms through which copper instigates cell death, thus inaugurating a novel era for nanomedicine that exploit cuproptosis synergistically in anti-tumor therapy. This paper furnishes a concise overview of copper's physiological roles in the human body, with a specific emphasis on the mechanisms and factors influencing cellular sensitivity to cuproptosis. It succinctly outlines prevailing strategies employed by anti-tumor nanomedicine platforms to induce cuproptosis. Additionally, the latest advancements in diverse copper-coordinated anti-tumor therapy are expounded upon, spanning chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, chemical dynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, as well as the amalgamation of various regulated cell deaths and multimodal therapy. In conclusion, the authors provide valuable insights into the prospective development of nanomedicine platforms inducing cuproptosis. The perspectives articulated in this study hold the potential to significantly contribute to the research and translation of cuproptosis nanomedicines for anti-tumor applications.