Yingni Duan

Prof. Dr. Yingni Duan


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 August 2025 in Pharmaceutics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CLChao Liu
Chao Liu
GHGaofei Huang
Gaofei Huang
LZLu Zhu
Lu Zhu
SLShasha Li
Shasha Li
KYKun Yang
Kun Yang
YDYingni Duan
Yingni Duan
Background and objectives: Chemotherapy is an established treatment modality for breast cancer; however, it is impaired by issues such as highly refractory chemoresistance and significant side effects. Magnesium ions (Mg2+), inorganic metal ions with anti-tumor bioactivity, sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy by depressing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression. Moreover, Mg2+ functions as an immunoadjuvant to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses, while excessive Mg2+ can induce marked tumor cell apoptosis. Methods: To enable Mg2+ to serve as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant for enhanced treatment efficacy, a Trojan horse-like chemoamplifier, denoted as MMSN@Dox, endowed with tumor microenvironment (TME) responsiveness and capable of achieving chemotherapy sensitization and anti-tumor immune activation, was constructed to enhance the efficacy of breast cancer treatment. Leveraging Mg2+-enabled TME-responsive degradability of the chemoamplifier, density functional theory (DFT) simulations were conducted to elucidate carrier structural dynamics. Results: Under stimulation of TME, the chemoamplifier decomposes, accompanied by a substantial release of chemotherapeutic agents and metal ions. Excessive Mg2+ induces significant tumor cell apoptosis by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reinforces chemotherapy sensitivity by depressing P-gp expression. Furthermore, MMSN@Dox weakens the stemness of tumor cells, further enhancing chemotherapy. The remarkable tumor-killing capability of chemoamplifier MMSN@Dox led to a remarkable immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect. Combined with the regulatory function of Mg2+ on T cells, it ultimately activates anti-tumor immune responses and achieves exceptional anti-tumor performance in both in vitro and in vivo models. Conclusions: This approach, leveraging Mg2+ to enhance chemotherapy efficacy, establishes a new paradigm for overcoming chemotherapy resistance and offers a novel strategic avenue for advancing nanomedicine in breast cancer treatment.