A metal-organic framework-based redox homeostasis disruptor selectively potentiate the cytotoxicity of dihydroartemisinin for cancer therapy

Artemisinin and its derivatives have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for cancer therapy by endogenous iron-mediated generation of free radicals. However, the enhanced antioxidant defense systems in cancer cells provide them with resistance to oxidative damage, greatly antagonizing the therapeutic efficacy that relies on inducing oxidative stress. Herein, a metal-organic framework (MOF)-based nanoplatform (CMD) is constructed to disrupt the cellular redox homeostasis and selectively potentiate the cytotoxicity of dihydroartemisinin for cancer therapy. In cancer cells, the copper(II) sites in the MOF nanocarrier of CMD can efficiently weaken the cellular antioxidant capacity by depleting the overexpressed glutathione, simultaneously leading to the decomposition of the framework structure and the release of the encapsulated dihydroartemisinin. As a result, the damaged antioxidant defense system of cancer cells reduces its effect on oxidative stress alleviation and strengthens the therapeutic efficacy of dihydroartemisinin. On contrast, the low concentration of cellular glutathione in normal cells protects them from dihydroartemisinin-induced cytotoxicity by decelerating the drug release. In vivo results demonstrate that CMD could completely suppress the tumor growth in mice and show no evidence of toxicity, providing an effective strategy for the practical usage of dihydroartemisinin in cancer therapy.