Composite Liposomes Encapsulating Nanozymes Enable Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Synergistic Therapy for Liver Cancer
- 1Department of Ultrasound
- 2Department of Radiology
- 3Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis
Abstract
Qilin Yu,1 Qiuling Liao,2,3 Yiming Qi,4 Yulu Ren,4 Shiyi Lyu,4 Enhua Xiao,4 Minping Zhang,5 Ping Zhou1 1Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 3Changsha Medical University, School Medical Imaging, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Minping Zhang; Ping Zhou, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy is limited by insufficient tumor targeting, suboptimal therapeutic efficacy, and the lack of real-time treatment monitoring. To address these issues, we developed a transferrin-modified lipid nanoplatform co-loading manganese–zinc ferrite nanozymes and mitoxantrone (MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs) for MRI-guided chemo–chemodynamic–photodynamic therapy.Methods: MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs were prepared by thin-film hydration–extrusion and characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Cellular uptake, lysosomal escape, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, T2-weighted MRI contrast, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were evaluated in HepG2 cells. Tumor targeting and antitumor efficacy were assessed in H22 tumor-bearing mice using fluorescence imaging, T2-weighted MRI, tumor growth monitoring, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and serum biochemical analysis.Results: The nanoparticles had an average size of approximately 124.7 nm and showed efficient HepG2 uptake and lysosomal escape. Upon 660 nm laser irradiation, ROS generation and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity were significantly enhanced (*p* < 0.01). In H22 tumor-bearing mice, fluorescence and T2-weighted MRI showed peak `tumor accumulation at 24 h post-injection, with approximately 72.3% T2 signal attenuation, consistent with the enhanced permeability and retention effect and transferrin receptor-mediated active targeting. The combination regimen achieved an 82.4% tumor growth inhibition rate (*p* < 0.01), induced apoptosis, suppressed proliferation, and increased intratumoral CD8+ and CD4+ T cell infiltration. Histological and serum biochemical analyses indicated favorable biosafety.Discussion/Conclusion: MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs integrate active tumor targeting, real-time MRI monitoring, and synergistic chemo–chemodynamic–photodynamic therapy, providing a promising precision theranostic strategy for liver cancer. The observed immune-related effects are preliminary and warrant further validation of immunogenic cell death induction.Keywords: tumor theranostics, lipid nanoparticles, magnetic resonance imaging, nanozymes, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy
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BibTeX
@article{yu2026composite,
title = {{Composite Liposomes Encapsulating Nanozymes Enable Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Synergistic Therapy for Liver Cancer}},
author = {Yu Q and Liao Q and Qi Y and Ren Y and Lyu S and Xiao E and Zhang M and Zhou P},
journal = {International Journal of Nanomedicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
url = {https://www.dovepress.com/composite-liposomes-encapsulating-nanozymes-enable-targeted-magnetic-r-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Composite Liposomes Encapsulating Nanozymes Enable Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Synergistic Therapy for Liver Cancer
AU - Yu Q
AU - Liao Q
AU - Qi Y
AU - Ren Y
AU - Lyu S
AU - Xiao E
AU - Zhang M
AU - Zhou P
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/08
JO - International Journal of Nanomedicine
UR - https://www.dovepress.com/composite-liposomes-encapsulating-nanozymes-enable-targeted-magnetic-r-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN
AB - Qilin Yu,1 Qiuling Liao,2,3 Yiming Qi,4 Yulu Ren,4 Shiyi Lyu,4 Enhua Xiao,4 Minping Zhang,5 Ping Zhou1 1Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 3Changsha Medical University, School Medical Imaging, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Minping Zhang; Ping Zhou, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy is limited by insufficient tumor targeting, suboptimal therapeutic efficacy, and the lack of real-time treatment monitoring. To address these issues, we developed a transferrin-modified lipid nanoplatform co-loading manganese–zinc ferrite nanozymes and mitoxantrone (MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs) for MRI-guided chemo–chemodynamic–photodynamic therapy.Methods: MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs were prepared by thin-film hydration–extrusion and characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Cellular uptake, lysosomal escape, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, T2-weighted MRI contrast, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis were evaluated in HepG2 cells. Tumor targeting and antitumor efficacy were assessed in H22 tumor-bearing mice using fluorescence imaging, T2-weighted MRI, tumor growth monitoring, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and serum biochemical analysis.Results: The nanoparticles had an average size of approximately 124.7 nm and showed efficient HepG2 uptake and lysosomal escape. Upon 660 nm laser irradiation, ROS generation and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity were significantly enhanced (*p* < 0.01). In H22 tumor-bearing mice, fluorescence and T2-weighted MRI showed peak `tumor accumulation at 24 h post-injection, with approximately 72.3% T2 signal attenuation, consistent with the enhanced permeability and retention effect and transferrin receptor-mediated active targeting. The combination regimen achieved an 82.4% tumor growth inhibition rate (*p* < 0.01), induced apoptosis, suppressed proliferation, and increased intratumoral CD8+ and CD4+ T cell infiltration. Histological and serum biochemical analyses indicated favorable biosafety.Discussion/Conclusion: MnZnFeOx/MX@Tf LNPs integrate active tumor targeting, real-time MRI monitoring, and synergistic chemo–chemodynamic–photodynamic therapy, providing a promising precision theranostic strategy for liver cancer. The observed immune-related effects are preliminary and warrant further validation of immunogenic cell death induction.Keywords: tumor theranostics, lipid nanoparticles, magnetic resonance imaging, nanozymes, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy
SN - 1178-2013
ER -