Scientists at Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) are working on iron-based nanoparticles designed to selectively destroy tumor cells by triggering ferroptosis, a form of cell death. The approach combines magnetic guidance with activation in high hydrogen peroxide environments—common in cancerous tissue—to minimize damage to healthy cells, according to the university’s press service.
Supported by the Russian Science Foundation, the project aims to achieve targeted destruction of cancer cells, a safer alternative to traditional chemotherapy.
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death (RCD) characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation and the formation of toxic free radicals. The scientists synthesized 36 variants of nanoparticles, varying the sources of iron, types of its carriers and catalytic additives. The top-performing nanoparticles exhibited strong stability and could selectively generate harmful free radicals in the environments with increased hydrogen peroxide, a substance usually found at higher concentrations in cancer cells.
“This is the first comprehensive approach in Russia,” said Lyubov Bondarenko, associate professor at MAI and project lead. “We synthesized 36 variants of nanoparticles, changing the sources of iron, types of its carriers, and reinforcing additives.”
The technology uses two levels of precision. Firstly, an external magnetic field enables the targeted delivery of nanoparticles into tumor tissues due to their magnetic nature. Secondly, they are activated in the area of the tumor, where the level of hydrogen peroxide is increased. This triggers a reaction with the formation of highly toxic radicals that damage the membranes and initiate the death of cancer cells.
Currently, the most promising compound is undergoing preclinical animal trials to assess its pharmacokinetics, organ distribution, and effects on tumors. The leading scientific centers, including N.V. Sklifosovsky Federal Research Institute, Biophysics Institute of the Siberian branch of RAS, Federal Research Center of RAS, and MISIS, have joined the project.
In the future, this technology may form the basis for new anticancer drugs with minimal side effects and high efficiency.
Earlier, it was reported that scientists at Mordovia State University developed biocompatible iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia therapy—using heat generated under magnetic fields to destroy tumors—showing promising safety and effectiveness for targeted cancer treatment. This opens the way to the creation of a domestic drug for targeted and gentle cancer therapy.
