@article{Peng2025, 
author = {Zoujun Peng and Jie Xing and Yanqiang Yang and Aochi Liu and Shihao Bai and Yaqi Ma and Quanliang Mao and Tianxiang Chen and Lingchao Xiang and Aiguo Wu},
title = {A pH-responsive nanomedicine inspired by the traditional Chinese mineral medicine pyritum for dual-modal imaging-guided combination therapy for osteosarcoma},
year = {2025},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {18},
number = {9},
pages = {94907755},
keywords = {magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), traditional Chinese medicine, photoacoustic imaging, nanotechnology, cancer therapy, osteosarcoma (OS)},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94907755},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94907755},
abstract = {Osteosarcoma remains a challenging malignancy due to its aggressive metastasis and resistance to conventional therapies. But the integration of nanotechnology with traditional Chinese medicine offers a transformative approach to overcoming challenges in herbal utilization and cancer therapy. Here, we report the discovery of self-assembled nanoparticles formed during the co-decoction of pyritum and corni fructus, representing a novel mechanism underlying traditional Chinese medicine synergy. Notably, the nanoparticles demonstrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability with a high T1 relaxation rate and low r2/r1 ratio (1.53), positioning them as promising T1 contrast agents. Inspired by this natural self-assembly process, we engineer a pH-responsive nanoplatform by conjugating gallic acid, polydopamine, and alendronate onto porous FeS2 nanoparticles (FGPA). FGPA achieves multi-therapy through drug release, photothermal ablation, H2S-mediated bioenergetic collapse, and ferroptosis induction. In vivo orthotopic models demonstrate almost tumor regression treated with FGPA and near-infrared irradiation, while maintaining biosafety. Additionally, FGPA serves as a dual-modal photoacoustic (PA)/MRI contrast agent, enabling image-guided therapy with pH-responsive T1 relaxation enhancement. This work bridges traditional Chinese medicine and nanotechnology, establishing a paradigm for developing multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine-based theranostic agents.}
}