Dismantlable Coronated Nanoparticles for Coupling the Induction and Perception of Immunogenic Cell Death

Prominent supramolecular systems for cancer Therapy: From structural design to tailored applications

Supramolecular materials represent a powerful class of platforms in cancer diagnosis and therapy, owing to their dynamic architectures, stimuli responsiveness, and high biocompatibility. This review focused on three representative categories-Pillarene-based systems, virus-mimetic nanoparticles (VMNs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-each offering unique structural and functional properties. Pillarene-based assemblies enable precise host-guest interactions, by being classified into amphiphilic, ionic, and chiral varieties, the robust drug loading and controlled release capabilities of the Pillarene family were emphasized. At the same time, the VMNs, including virus-like particles and virosomes, show power in cancer cell targeting and membrane penetration by emulating natural viral architectures. By discussing the fabrication and application of single-metallic, multi-metallic, and composite MOFs, their potential in multimodal diagnosis and therapy was revealed. In addition, other supramolecular categories, such as cyclodextrin and dendrimers, were introduced as well. We highlighted representative approaches and emerging methods, and comparative perspectives with traditional nanocarriers were included. A critical evaluation of pharmacokinetic behaviors, biosafety concerns, and translational limitations was also proposed, aiming to guide future research in supramolecular cancer nanomedicine. Through an integrative and forward-looking analysis, this review provided a comprehensive framework for understanding and designing supramolecular systems for precision oncology. These emerging nanotechnologies hold promise to reshape cancer medicine by enabling adaptive, targeted, and multifunctional therapeutic strategies.

Multiplex Methionine Modulating Hydrogel for Cancer Metabolic Therapy

The reliance on high levels of methionine by tumor cells provides an attractive target for cancer treatment. However, systemic methionine blockade may raise concerns about potential side effects given the broad and essential functions of methionine in cellular metabolism. Here, a combined drug delivery platform for multilayered constraint of methionine within tumor lesions is developed. Small molecule inhibitors PF9366 and adenosine dialdehyde are encapsulated by tumor cell-targeting nanoparticles (NPs) to achieve a cascaded blockage of intracellular methionine metabolism. These NPs are further co-loaded with the extracellular methionine uptake inhibitor JPH203 into a type of reactive oxygen species-sensitive hydrogel, assembling the multiplex methionine modulating hydrogel (3 M Gel). In murine models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer, the in situ formed 3 M Gel exhibits superior efficacy in restricting S-adenosyl methionine generation and histone methylation, stimulating immunogenic cell death in tumor cells, thereby eliciting potent innate and adaptive immune responses to restrain tumor progression. Moreover, remodeling of the tumor microenvironment by 3 M Gel overcomes immune checkpoint blockade resistance in TNBC. This study presents a localized triple regulation strategy and paves a new path for amino acid starvation-based cancer therapy.

Spatiotemporally Programming Microenvironment to Recapitulate Endochondral Ossification via Greenhouse-Inspired Bionic Niche

Various biomaterials have been developed to address challenging critical-sized bone defects. However, most of them focus on intramembranous ossification (IMO) rather than endochondral ossification (ECO), often resulting in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. Drawing inspiration from the functionality of the greenhouse ecosystem, herein a bionic niche is innovatively crafted to recapitulate the ECO process. This niche consists of three hierarchical components: an embedded microchannel network that facilitates cell infiltration and matter exchange, a polydopamine surface modification layer with immunomodulatory functions, and an ECO-targeted delivery system based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Through spatiotemporally programming of the microenvironment, the bionic niche effectively recapitulates the key stages of ECO. Notably, even in the rat calvaria, a region well-known for IMO, the bionic niche is capable of initiating ECO, evident by cartilage template formation, leading to efficient bone regeneration. Taken together, this study introduces prospective concepts for designing next-generation ECO-driven biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.

Targeting modulation of intestinal flora through oral route by an antimicrobial nucleic acid-loaded exosome-like nanovesicles to improve Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases. It is usually accompanied by motor and non-motor symptoms that seriously threaten the health and the quality of life. Novel medications are urgently needed because current pharmaceuticals can relieve symptoms but cannot stop disease progression. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is closely associated with the occurrence and development of PD and is an effective therapeutic target. Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) can modulate the microbiome and immune regulation. However, such nucleic acid nanostructures are very sensitive to acids which hinder this promising approach. Therefore, we prepared exosome-like nanovesicles (Exo@tac) from ginger that are acid resistant and equipped with tFNAs modified by antimicrobial peptides (AMP). We verified that Exo@tac regulates intestinal bacteria associated with the microbial-gut-brain axis in vitro and significantly improves PD symptoms in vivo when administered orally. Microbiota profiling confirmed that Exo@tac normalizes the intestinal flora composition of mouse models of PD. Our findings present a novel strategy for the development of PD drugs and the innovative delivery of nucleic acid nanomedicines.

GSH-responsive bithiophene Aza-BODIPY@HMON nanoplatform for achieving triple-synergistic photoimmunotherapy

Photoimmunotherapy represents an innovative approach to enhancing the efficiency of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. This approach involves the fusion of immunotherapy and phototherapy (encompassing techniques like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT)). Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) has the potential to trigger immunotherapy owing to its excellent PD and PT efficiency. However, the improvements in water solubility, bioavailability, PD/PT combined efficiency, and tumor tissue targeting of BODIPY require introduction of suitable carriers for potential practical application. Herein, a disulfide bond-based hollow mesoporous organosilica (HMON) with excellent biocompatibility and GSH-responsive degradation properties was used as a carrier to load a bithiophene Aza-BODIPY dye (B5), constructing a sample chemotherapy reagent-free B5@HMON nanoplatform achieving triple-synergistic photoimmunotherapy. HMON, involving disulfide bond, is utilized to improve water solubility, tumor tissue targeting, and PD efficiency by depleting GSH and enhancing host-guest interaction between B5 and HMO. The study reveals that HMON's large specific surface area and porous properties significantly enhance the light collection and oxygen adsorption capacity. The HMON's rich mesoporous structure and internal cavity achieved a loading rate of B5 at 11 %. It was found that the triple-synergistic nanoplatform triggered a stronger anti-tumor immune response, including tumor invasion, cytokine production, calreticulin translocation, and dendritic cell maturation, eliciting specific tumor-specific immunological responses in vivo and in vitro. The BALB/c mouse model with 4T1 tumors was used to assess tumor suppression efficiency in vivo, showing that almost all tumors in the B5@HMON group disappeared after 14 days. Such a simple chemotherapy reagent-free B5@HMON nanoplatform achieved triple-synergistic photoimmunotherapy.

A DNA tetrahedron-based nanosuit for efficient delivery of amifostine and multi-organ radioprotection

Unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) often causes acute and chronic oxidative damages to normal cells and organs, leading to serious physiological and even life-threatening consequences. Amifostine (AMF) is a validated radioprotectant extensively applied in radiation and chemotherapy medicine, but the short half-life limits its bioavailability and clinical applications, remaining as a great challenge to be addressed. DNA-assembled nanostructures especially the tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) are promising nanocarriers with preeminent biosafety, low biotoxicity, and high transport efficiency. The tFNAs also have a relative long-term maintenance for structural stability and excellent endocytosis capacity. We therefore synthesized a tFNA-based delivery system of AMF for multi-organ radioprotection (tFNAs@AMF, also termed nanosuit). By establishing the mice models of accidental total body irradiation (TBI) and radiotherapy model of Lewis lung cancer, we demonstrated that the nanosuit could shield normal cells from IR-induced DNA damage by regulating the molecular biomarkers of anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative stress. In the accidental total body irradiation (TBI) mice model, the nanosuit pretreated mice exhibited satisfactory alteration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and functional recovery of hematopoietic system, reducing IR-induced pathological damages of multi-organ and safeguarding mice from lethal radiation. More importantly, the nanosuit showed a selective radioprotection of the normal organs without interferences of tumor control in the radiotherapy model of Lewis lung cancer. Based on a conveniently available DNA tetrahedron-based nanocarrier, this work presents a high-efficiency delivery system of AMF with the prolonged half-life and enhanced radioprotection for multi-organs. Such nanosuit pioneers a promising strategy with great clinical translation potential for radioactivity protection.