Cuproptosis‐Driven Enhancement of Thermotherapy by Sequentially Response Cu2‐xSe via Copper Chemical Transition

Abstract

AbstractActivation of cuproptosis pathway has been reported to hold great potential in the application of tumor treatment. But the efficacy of cuproptosis seriously limited by the insufficient accumulation in the tumor sites. Therefore, herein based on the strong stabilization effects of the metalloid element selenium (Se) on copper (Cu), a photothermic Cu2‐xSe nanoparticle encapsulated with bioresponsive dimethyl maleic anhydride (DMMA@Cu2‐xSe) as a copper‐carrier to improve the copper accumulation in tumor is constructed, thus achieving cuproptosis‐driven enhancement of thermotherapy. This nanosystem exhibits the enhancement of tumor cellular uptake by a weak acid‐triggered charge‐switching ability. Next step, the exposed Cu2‐xSe is oxidized and releases divalent copper by high‐level oxide. Then, the abundant copper induces more dihydrolipoamide S‐acetyltransferase oligomerization to down‐regulate FDX1 and tricarboxylic acid cycle‐related proteins, which leads to inhibiting aerobic respiration. Cuproptosis‐induced mitochondrial damage further improves thermotherapy by up‐regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the generated ROS also promotes copper release to strengthen cuproptosis, and eventually improves tumor thermotherapy in turn. In general, DMMA@Cu2‐xSe with sequentially triggered copper‐release, efficient cuproptosis, and appropriate photothermal is a self‐enhanced nanoplatform for cuproptosis‐driven enhancement of thermotherapy.