Scheme 1
From: Bio-nanocomplexes impair iron homeostasis to induce non-canonical ferroptosis in cancer cells
Schematic of AbDA-Lim preparation and mechanism to enhance LIP and induce ferroptosis in tumors. Dopamine is first oxidized to polydopamine, which is then encapsulated together with limonene into albumin, forming AbDA-Lim. After AbDA-Lim is taken up by tumor cells, polydopamine limonene are released. Polydopamine increases HMOX1 expression to degrade haem and promote the conversion of Fe (III) to Fe (II). Limonene inhibits CBS expression, resulting in reduced GSH synthesis, thereby promoting the release of Fe (II) from storage into the labile iron pool (LIP). Finally, iron homeostasis is disrupted by AbDA-Lim, leading to ferroptosis in tumor cells