Iron-based nanomaterials for tumor therapy: structural engineering and functional mechanisms

Abstract

Iron-based nanomaterials are transforming cancer therapeutics through their multifunctional properties, offering solutions to persistent clinical barriers such as systemic toxicity, tumour hypoxia, immune suppression, and resistance to standard treatments. Their intrinsic catalytic properties, particularly Fenton-like activity, enables in situ ROS generation, while magnetic responsiveness facilitates localized hyperthermia and synergistic therapeutic activation. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, these platforms trigger ferroptosis and oxidative stress mediated cell death, modulating the tumour microenvironment and improving therapeutic outcomes. This review summarizes recent progress in iron-based nanomaterials, including iron oxides, zero-valent iron (ZVI), alloys, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and single-atom catalysts (SACs), emphasizing their mechanistic roles in chemodynamic therapy (CDT), magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT), and ferroptosis. By linking structural and redox characteristics with catalytic efficiency and therapeutic response, this work highlights the potential of integrated iron-based nanomaterials as versatile platforms for next-generation multimodal cancer therapy.