Digitonin-Loaded Nanoscale Metal–Organic Framework for Mitochondria-Targeted Radiotherapy-Radiodynamic Therapy and Disulfidptosis

Abstract

The efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) is limited by inefficient X-ray absorption and reactive oxygen species generation, upregulation of immunosuppressive factors, and a reducing tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, the design of a mitochondria-targeted and digitonin (Dig)-loaded nanoscale metal-organic framework, Th-Ir-DBB/Dig, is reported to overcome these limitations and elicit strong antitumor effects upon low-dose X-ray irradiation. Built from Th₆O₄(OH)₄ secondary building units (SBUs) and photosensitizing Ir(DBB)(ppy)₂²⁺ (Ir-DBB, DBB = 4,4′-di(4-benzoato)−2,2′-bipyridine; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) ligands, Th-Ir-DBB exhibits strong RT-radiodynamic therapy (RDT) effects via potent radiosensitization with high-Z SBUs for hydroxyl radical generation and efficient excitation of Ir-DBB ligands for singlet oxygen production. Th-Ir-DBB/Dig releases digitonin in acidic TMEs to trigger disulfidptosis of cancer cells and sensitize cancer cells to RT-RDT through glucose and glutathione depletion. The released digitonin simultaneously downregulates multiple immune checkpoints in cancer cells and T cells through cholesterol depletion. As a result, Th-Ir-DBB/dig plus X-ray irradiation induces strong antitumor immunity to effectively inhibit tumor growth in mouse models of colon and breast cancer.