Liposomal Surface-Loading of Water-Soluble Cationic Iron(III) Porphyrins as Anticancer Drugs Makoto Yuasa Kenichi Oyaizu Aiko Horiuchi Akihiko Ogata Tomomi Hatsugai Aritomo Yamaguchi Hiroyoshi Kawakami 10.1021/mp049936v.s001 https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Liposomal_Surface_Loading_of_Water_Soluble_Cationic_Iron_III_Porphyrins_as_Anticancer_Drugs/3325441 A novel design of anticancer drug delivery system, based on an electrostatic binding of negatively charged liposomes and cationic metalloporphyrins under physiological conditions, is reported. A lack of cytotoxicity of the iron(III) porphyrin-loaded liposomes and an efficient generation of a toxic hydroxyl radical (OH<sup>•</sup>) from a superoxide anion radical (O<sub>2</sub><sup>-•</sup>) through the iron(III)-catalyzed dismutation and the Fenton-like reaction allow for a targeted necrosis of tumor cells where the concentration of O<sub>2</sub><sup>-•</sup> is locally increased as a result of the reduced activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in these cells.Keywords: Anticancer drug delivery system; liposome; cationic metalloporphyrins; superoxide anion radical; hydroxyl radical 2004-09-13 00:00:00 cationic metalloporphyrins superoxide anion Anticancer drug delivery system anticancer drug delivery system hydroxyl OH liposomes