Targeted ZnO@CuEA Nanoplatform for Cuproptosis-Based Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumour. Copper-induced cell death, a recently discovered form of metal ion-related cell death, has garnered significant attention from researchers. We synthesised a multifunctional nanoparticle, ZnO@CuEA, and characterised its morphology using transmission electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity was analysed via CCK8 assays and calcein-AM staining. The tumour-targeting capability of ZnO@CuEA was validated using confocal microscopy and in vivo imaging experiments. RNA-seq and proteomic analysis were conducted to assess changes in mRNA and protein expression before and after ZnO@CuEA treatment. Lysosomal β-galactosidase staining was employed for cellular senescence detection, and protein expression levels were analysed via Western blot. Finally, in vivo experiments demonstrated the tumour-inhibitory effect of ZnO@CuEA. ZnO@CuEA is a multifunctional nanoparticle capable of targeting tumour cells and inducing cuproptosis. In vivo experiments showed that ZnO@CuEA exhibits significant antitumor activity. The multifunctional nanoparticles synthesised in this study provide a novel therapeutic approach for cancer treatment.