Self‐Amplified Nanomedicine Enables Lysosomal Blockade to Potentiate Starvation Therapy of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

M Mingjie Song Z Ziru Zhang X Xuan Pan (2University of Wisconsin-Madison., Department of Medical Sciences., Madison, United States) X Xiaoyu Yang F Fenglin Xu (State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines Department of Pharmaceutics China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China) Z Zhenning Ye (State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines Department of Pharmaceutics China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China) J Jianping Zhou Q Qifeng Zhong (Department of Biomedical Engineering School of Engineering China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China) Y Yang Ding H Huaqing Zhang (Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Starvation therapy targeting the metabolic vulnerability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) holds great potential; however, analyses of clinical samples and orthotopic models reveal that its efficacy is undermined by lysosome‐mediated metabolic compensation. To disrupt this metabolic adaptability, we herein engineer a homotypic membrane‐camouflaged nanomedicine capable of hypoxia‐responsive cascade drug release and enhanced tumor accumulation. The resulting nanomedicine performs a hypoxia‐induced phase transition that first liberates glucose oxidase to intensify oxygen deprivation and subsequently triggers burst release of chloroquine. Such a design of self‐amplified relay drug release ensures effective starvation induction and precise lysosomal alkalization, thereby shutting down lysosome‐mediated nutrient recycling. In a xenograft orthotopic PDAC model, this nanomedicine achieves 9.75‐fold increase in tumor accumulation, robust tumor inhibition of 92.8%, and an elevated survival rate of 80% with favorable biosafety. Collectively, our findings highlight lysosomal disruption as a therapeutic lever to potentiate starvation therapy and provide a clinically actionable nanoplatform to enhance metabolic interventions for other metabolically vulnerable malignancies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 14
Published March 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

M

Mingjie Song

Z

Ziru Zhang

X

Xuan Pan

2University of Wisconsin-Madison., Department of Medical Sciences., Madison, United States

X

Xiaoyu Yang

F

Fenglin Xu

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines Department of Pharmaceutics China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China

Z

Zhenning Ye

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines Department of Pharmaceutics China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China

J

Jianping Zhou

Q

Qifeng Zhong

Department of Biomedical Engineering School of Engineering China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China

Y

Yang Ding

H

Huaqing Zhang

Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Republic of Singapore