CD44‐Targeting Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles (HAP) Induce Mitochondrial Dysfunction‐Driven PANoptosis and Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD) via Ca Overload in Colorectal Cancer

Read full text
Authors: Yu-Ying Xiao, Yuxuan Yang, Haosen Qiu, Jia Yang, Hao Liang, Zhaojun Jiang, Tong Xiao, Yongying Li, Qunfeng Huang, Jiaming Wu, Tian Lin, Jiang Yu
+1 more Min Liang
Cited by: 1
References: 29

Abstract

ABSTRACT Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains therapeutically challenging due to high metastasis, recurrence, and immunotherapy resistance driven by tumor microenvironment‐mediated immune evasion. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) offers a promising strategy to reshape the immune microenvironment, yet existing ICD inducers suffer from poor targeting efficiency and insufficient death signal release. Here, we constructed a calcium overload‐based smart nanosystem, HA‐HAP@CUR, to achieve highly efficient ICD induction via a triple‐effect mechanism: hyaluronic acid (HA)‐mediated CD44 targeting enables tumor‐selective accumulation; pH‐responsive hydroxyapatite (HAP) degradation releases Ca 2+ in the acidic tumor microenvironment; and curcumin (CUR) amplifies intracellular calcium overload by promoting endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ release, collectively establishing a positive feedback loop disrupting calcium homeostasis. Mechanistically, calcium overload induces mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation and sustained mPTP opening, triggering mitochondrial oxidative stress and energy metabolic disorders. This mitochondrial crisis concurrently activates caspase‐3, GSDMD, and RIPK1, synergistically initiating apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis, ultimately converging into PANoptosis with potent immunostimulatory potential. This strategy, encompassing targeted accumulation, calcium storm activation, and multi‐modal cell death synergy, provides a biologically precise approach to overcoming immunotherapy resistance in CRC.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Inflammasome and immune disorders Cell death mechanisms and regulation interferon and immune responses

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Science
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
13
Issue
42
Pages
e75559–e75559
Publication date
6 May 2026
Language
EN