A pH-Responsive Drug-Delivery System Based on Apatinib-Loaded Metal-Organic Frameworks for Ferroptosis-Targeted Synergistic Anti-Tumor Therapy

The efficacy of systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited mainly by the complex tumor defense mechanism and the severe toxic side-effects of drugs. The efficacy of apatinib (Apa), a key liver cancer treatment, is unsatisfactory due to inadequate targeting and is accompanied by notable side-effects. Leveraging nanomaterials to enhance its targeting represents a crucial strategy for improving the effectiveness of liver cancer therapy.