Combination therapy based on different mechanisms of cell death has shown promise in tumor therapy. However, when different modalities are integrated, the maximum synergy of the therapeutic effects is often lacking in the design. Herein, we report a cancer theranostic nanomedicine formula developed by considering the mechanisms of action of ferroptosis and the photothermal effect in combination therapy. The croconaine molecule was encapsulated as both a photothermal converter and an iron‐chelating agent with BSA, thus leading to biocompatible and stable Cro‐Fe@BSA nanoparticles (NPs). The Cro‐Fe@BSA NPs in the tumor milieu showed an activated photothermal effect leading to enhanced radical formation owing to the temperature‐dependent Fenton reaction kinetics, while radical formation during ferroptosis in turn prevented the heat‐induced formation of heat shock proteins and thus the self‐protection mechanism of cancer cells in response to heat. The activatable photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging performance of the Cro‐Fe@BSA NPs also enabled safe and reliable cancer theranostics.
Understanding the intricate molecular machinery that governs ferroptosis and leveraging this accumulating knowledge could facilitate disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Emerging approaches for the in situ detection of the major regulators and biological events across cellular, tissue, and in living subjects provide a multiscale perspective for studying ferroptosis. Furthermore, advanced applications that integrate ferroptosis detection and the latest technologies hold tremendous promise in ferroptosis research. In this review, we first briefly summarize the mechanisms and key regulators underlying ferroptosis. Ferroptosis detection approaches are then presented to delineate their design, mechanisms of action, and applications. Special interest is placed on advanced ferroptosis applications that integrate multifunctional platforms. Finally, we discuss the prospects and challenges of ferroptosis detection approaches and applications, with the aim of providing a roadmap for the theranostic development of a broad range of ferroptosis‐related diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative
disorder. Currently, there are no available treatments that can effectively
stop or reverse the progression of the disease, and existing therapeutics
can only alleviate the symptoms. Thus, it remains urgent to develop
effective early-stage AD diagnostic methods. In recent years, the
search for near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) probes of AD hallmarks
has become a promising research field. In this Review, we will focus
on small-molecule NIRF probes used to detect β-amyloid, tau
proteins, and reactive oxygen species in vivo during
the past 4 years. We believe that some new directions we raise herein
will benefit the future development of NIRF probes in the field of
AD research.
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