Core Insights - Ferroptosis is a regulated form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, gaining attention for its potential in cancer therapy [2][6] - Despite extensive research on the biological mechanisms of ferroptosis, its anti-tumor effects are significantly limited due to challenges in the precise delivery of ferroptosis inducers to tumor tissues [2][4] Group 1: Biological Mechanisms and Challenges - Cancer remains a major global health challenge and a leading cause of death, with traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy facing inherent limitations such as drug resistance and reduced efficacy in hypoxic tumor microenvironments [6] - Ferroptosis, first reported in 2012, offers a promising opportunity to overcome clinical bottlenecks faced by traditional cancer therapies, with its therapeutic effects validated in various cancer types including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and triple-negative breast cancer [6][7] - The need to enhance the delivery efficiency of ferroptosis inducers to tumor tissues is a critical theme, as several inducers have shown effectiveness in preclinical models but failed to improve patient survival in clinical trials [7][9] Group 2: Nanotechnology and Delivery Systems - Recent advancements in nanotechnology provide new perspectives for the innovation of tumor ferroptosis, particularly through the development of nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) that can regulate multiple molecular pathways and enhance tumor-specific delivery [4][8] - Multifunctional nanomaterials can serve as nanocarriers for the synergistic delivery of various therapeutic agents, overcoming ferroptosis resistance in cancer cells and effectively targeting multiple molecular pathways [8][9] - NDDS can be designed to respond to tumor-specific stimuli, allowing for spatiotemporal controlled release of ferroptosis inducers, thereby minimizing off-target damage and enhancing therapeutic efficacy [8][9] Group 3: Future Directions - The review establishes a connection between the biology of ferroptosis and nanomaterial science, elucidating how functional nanoplatforms can enhance ferroptosis by modulating dysfunctional organelles and improving the delivery efficiency of inducers [9][27] - The current limitations of ferroptosis in clinical applications and the future development directions based on nanotechnology are summarized, indicating a significant potential for improving clinical outcomes and patient quality of life through enhanced ferroptosis cancer therapies [9][27]