An Electron Donor-Acceptor Structured Rhenium(I) Complex Photo-Sensitizer Evokes Mutually Reinforcing "Closed-Loop" Ferroptosis and Immunotherapy.

Abstract

The hypoxic microenvironment of solid tumors severely lowers the efficacy of oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT). The development of hypoxia-tolerant photosensitizers for PDT is an urgent requirement. In this study, a novel rhenium complex (Re-TTPY) to develop a "closed-loop" therapy based on PDT-induced ferroptosis and immune therapy is reported. Due to its electron donor-acceptor (D-A) structure, Re-TTPY undergoes energy transfer and electron transfer processes under 550 nm light irradiation and displays hypoxia-tolerant type I/II combined PDT capability, which can generate ¹O₂, O₂ ^-, and ·OH simultaneously. Further, the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) leads to the depletion of 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and glutathione (GSH). As a result, ferroptosis occurs in cells, simultaneously triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD), and promotes the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and infiltration of T cells. The release of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by CD8+ T cells downregulates the expression of GPX4, further enhancing the occurrence of ferroptosis, and thereby, forming a mutually reinforcing "closed-loop" therapeutic approach.