Evidence mapPaperPMID 41909170Full record

ArticleInternational journal of pharmaceutics: X2026

Multifunctional armored nanoemulsion of elemene combining ferroptosis induction and gut homeostasis restoration in colorectal cancer therapy.

Qianyun Zhu, Huiru Li, Wenjie Lu, Dan Su, Lingzhen Ding, Jinguang Ouyang, Wenyou Fang, Tianming Wang, Shengqi Chen, Xia Liu and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of pharmaceutics: X, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Qianyun ZhuSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Huiru LiSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Wenjie LuSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Dan SuDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
Lingzhen DingAnhui Zhengyao Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. Hefei, Anhui 230038, China.
Jinguang OuyangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
Wenyou FangSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Tianming WangSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Shengqi ChenSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Xia LiuSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Song GaoSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.
Shengyong LuoAnhui Institute of Medicine (Anhui Academy of Medical Sciences), Hefei 230061, China.
Rongfeng HuSchool of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common type of gastrointestinal malignancy, with the combined effect of multiple etiological factors. Multifunctional nanocomposites present a promising platform for synergistic therapy of CRC. Elemene (EL), an active component in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits both antitumor and immunostimulatory activities. However, its clinical application is limited by poor stability, low tumor accumulation, and the difficulty of effectively harnessing its dual activities. Herein, we developed an orally administered, colon-targeted nanoemulsion, LMP@EL-CNE, comprising EL cationic nanoemulsions (EL-CNE) armored with a low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) polysaccharide shell. This system exhibits dual responsiveness to colonic microflora enzymes and pH, allowing for prolonged retention and targeted drug release in the colon. Subsequently, it generates ultra-small EL nanodroplets (∼20 nm), which enhance tumor penetration and accumulation. Notably, LMP@EL-CNE induces mitochondrial dysfunction and downregulates glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key regulator of ferroptosis. This disruption of the balance unlocks a more potent ferroptosis response, amplifying EL's intrinsic activity in CT26 cells. In an Chemical compounds studied in this article: Elemene (EL CAS No. 33880-83-0) the primary active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with antitumor activity Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil (RH40, CAS No. 61788-85-0), a key non-ionic surfactant for nanoemulsion stabilization.Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB, CAS No. 57-09-0), a cationic surfactant used in the nanoemulsion formulation.Low-methoxyl pectin (LMP, CAS No. 9000-69-5), an anionic polysaccharide constituting the functional "armor" of the nanoemulsion.Liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1, CAS No. 950455-15-9), a potent ferroptosis inhibitor used for mechanistic validation.Glutathione (GSH, reduced form, CAS No. 70-18-8), a central antioxidant, quantified to assess the status of the GPX4-mediated ferroptosis defense system.Malondialdehyde (MDA, CAS No. 542-78-9), the primary end-product of lipid peroxidation, quantified as a key indicator of ferroptosis.

Indexed as

Armored nanoemulsionColorectal cancerFerroptosisGut homeostasisPolysaccharideSynergistic therapy

Identifiers

PMID41909170
PMCPMC13022687

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.