Erythrosine–Iron Oxide Nanoemulsions Combining Photodynamic Therapy with Ferroptosis-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Prostate Cancer
- 1São Paulo State University (UNESP) , , , ,
Abstract
Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among men worldwide. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance conventional treatments, yet its efficacy is often limited by poor solubility, instability, and a lack of targeting of photosensitizers. Here, we report the development of hybrid erythrosine–iron oxide nanoemulsions (MNE/Ery) produced by vacuum-assisted nanoemulsification. The optimized formulation (0.05 mg·mL–1 erythrosine; 0.5 mg·mL–1 maghemite) exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼100 nm, negative surface charge, and strong retention of the photosensitizer’s spectral profile. The iron oxide nanoparticles (20–30 nm) exhibited efficient magnetic heating potential, reaching 42 °C within 5.5 min under an alternating field (418 kHz, 12 kA·m–1), indicating suitability for future exploration in magnetic hyperthermia applications. While MNE/Ery maintained high biocompatibility toward healthy cells (HDFn and PNT2), it induced a potent light-triggered cytotoxic response in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Upon irradiation, the platform delivered a robust, dose-dependent therapeutic effect even at conservative fluences, driven by the combination of maghemite-induced oxidative stress (ferroptosis) and erythrosine-mediated ROS generation. These findings position the MNE/Ery system as a promising nanotechnological platform for PDT with an intrinsic iron-mediated chemotherapeutic effect, with additional potential for future magnetic hyperthermia-based applications.
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BibTeX
@article{ferreira2026erythrosineiron,
title = {{Erythrosine–Iron Oxide Nanoemulsions Combining Photodynamic Therapy with Ferroptosis-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Prostate Cancer}},
author = {Matheus Liberato Ferreira and Giovanna Capaldi Fortunato and Rodolfo Debone Piazza and Marlus Chorilli and Fernando Lucas Primo},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c05709},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c05709/5453980/Erythrosine-Iron-Oxide-Nanoemulsions-Combining},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Erythrosine–Iron Oxide Nanoemulsions Combining Photodynamic Therapy with Ferroptosis-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Prostate Cancer
AU - Matheus Liberato Ferreira
AU - Giovanna Capaldi Fortunato
AU - Rodolfo Debone Piazza
AU - Marlus Chorilli
AU - Fernando Lucas Primo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c05709
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c05709/5453980/Erythrosine-Iron-Oxide-Nanoemulsions-Combining
AB - Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among men worldwide. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance conventional treatments, yet its efficacy is often limited by poor solubility, instability, and a lack of targeting of photosensitizers. Here, we report the development of hybrid erythrosine–iron oxide nanoemulsions (MNE/Ery) produced by vacuum-assisted nanoemulsification. The optimized formulation (0.05 mg·mL–1 erythrosine; 0.5 mg·mL–1 maghemite) exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼100 nm, negative surface charge, and strong retention of the photosensitizer’s spectral profile. The iron oxide nanoparticles (20–30 nm) exhibited efficient magnetic heating potential, reaching 42 °C within 5.5 min under an alternating field (418 kHz, 12 kA·m–1), indicating suitability for future exploration in magnetic hyperthermia applications. While MNE/Ery maintained high biocompatibility toward healthy cells (HDFn and PNT2), it induced a potent light-triggered cytotoxic response in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Upon irradiation, the platform delivered a robust, dose-dependent therapeutic effect even at conservative fluences, driven by the combination of maghemite-induced oxidative stress (ferroptosis) and erythrosine-mediated ROS generation. These findings position the MNE/Ery system as a promising nanotechnological platform for PDT with an intrinsic iron-mediated chemotherapeutic effect, with additional potential for future magnetic hyperthermia-based applications.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -