Reconstructed adoptive-macrophages with DNA-tetrahedron-CpG/siRNA for synergistic solid tumor immunotherapy

Revolutionizing cancer therapy using tetrahedral DNA nanostructures as intelligent drug delivery systems

DNA nanostructures have surfaced as intriguing entities with vast potential in biomedicine, notably in the drug delivery area. Tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) have received worldwide attention from among an array of different DNA nanostructures due to their extraordinary stability, great biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization. TDNs could be readily synthesized, making them attractive carriers for chemotherapeutic medicines, nucleic acid therapeutics, and imaging probes. Their varied uses encompass medication delivery, molecular diagnostics, biological imaging, and theranostics. This review extensively highlights the mechanisms of functional modification of TDNs and their applications in cancer therapy. Additionally, it discusses critical concerns and unanswered problems that require attention to increase the future application of TDNs in developing cancer treatment.

Emerging nanoparticle platforms for CpG oligonucleotide delivery

Unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), which were therapeutic DNA with high immunostimulatory activity, have been applied in widespread applications from basic research to clinics as therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapy, viral infection, allergic diseases and asthma since their discovery in 1995. The major factors to consider for clinical translation using CpG motifs are the protection of CpG ODNs from DNase degradation and the delivery of CpG ODNs to the Toll-like receptor-9 expressed human B-cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Therefore, great efforts have been devoted to the advances of efficient delivery systems for CpG ODNs. In this review, we outline new horizons and recent developments in this field, providing a comprehensive summary of the nanoparticle-based CpG delivery systems developed to improve the efficacy of CpG-mediated immune responses, including DNA nanostructures, inorganic nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, metal-organic-frameworks, lipid-based nanosystems, proteins and peptides, as well as exosomes and cell membrane nanoparticles. Moreover, future challenges in the establishment of CpG delivery systems for immunotherapeutic applications are discussed. We expect that the continuously growing interest in the development of CpG-based immunotherapy will certainly fuel the excitement and stimulation in medicine research.

Remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment via siRNA therapy for precision cancer treatment

How to effectively transform the pro-oncogenic tumor microenvironments (TME) surrounding a tumor into an anti-tumoral never fails to attract people to study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is considered one of the most noteworthy research directions that can regulate gene expression following a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). The research about siRNA delivery targeting tumor cells and TME has been on the rise in recent years. Using siRNA drugs to silence critical proteins in TME was one of the most efficient solutions. However, the manufacture of a siRNA delivery system faces three major obstacles, i.e., appropriate cargo protection, accurately targeted delivery, and site-specific cargo release. In the following review, we summarized the pharmacological actions of siRNA drugs in remolding TME. In addition, the delivery strategies of siRNA drugs and combination therapy with siRNA drugs to remodel TME are thoroughly discussed. In the meanwhile, the most recent advancements in the development of all clinically investigated and commercialized siRNA delivery technologies are also presented. Ultimately, we propose that nanoparticle drug delivery siRNA may be the future research focus of oncogene therapy. This summary offers a thorough analysis and roadmap for general readers working in the field.

Spectroscopic, calorimetric and cytotoxicity studies on the combined binding of daunorubicin and acridine orange to a DNA tetrahedron

Chemotherapy-phototherapy (CTPT) combination drugs co-loaded by targeted DNA nanostructures can achieve controlled drug delivery, reduce toxic side effects and overcome multidrug resistance. Herein, we constructed and characterized a DNA tetrahedral nanostructure (MUC1-TD) linked with the targeting aptamer MUC1. The interaction of daunorubicin (DAU)/acridine orange (AO) alone and in combination with MUC1-TD and the influence of the interaction on the cytotoxicity of the drugs were evaluated. Potassium ferrocyanide quenching analysis and DNA melting temperature assays were used to demonstrate the intercalative binding of DAU/AO to MUC1-TD. The interactions of DAU and/or AO with MUC1-TD were analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The number of binding sites, binding constant, entropy and enthalpy changes of the binding process were obtained. The binding strength and binding sites of DAU were higher than those of AO. The presence of AO in the ternary system weakened the binding of DAU to MUC1-TD. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that the loading of MUC1-TD augmented the inhibitory effects of DAU and AO and the synergistic cytotoxic effects of DAU + AO on MCF-7 cells and MCF-7/ADR cells. Cell uptake studies showed that the loading of MUC1-TD was beneficial in promoting the apoptosis of MCF-7/ADR cells due to its enhanced targeting to the nucleus. This study has important guiding significance for the combined application of DAU and AO co-loaded by DNA nanostructures to overcome multidrug resistance.

Sulfonium-Driven Neoantigen-Released DNA Nanodevice as a Precise Vaccine for Tumor Immunotherapy and Prevention

Peptide-based neoantigen vaccines hold tremendous potential for personalized tumor immunotherapy. However, effective delivery and controllable release of antigen peptides remain major challenges in stimulating robust and sustained immune responses. Programmable DNA nanodevices provide accurate fixed positions for antigens, which are convenient for the calculation of clinical dosage, and hold great potential as precise carriers. Here, a peptide-nucleic acid conjugate was prepared, which was driven by a propargyl sulfonium-based efficient and reversible bio-orthogonal reaction under weakly alkaline conditions, and folded into regular DNA nanodevice vaccines. The well-defined nanoplatform not only exhibits outstanding stability in serum, satisfactory safety, and effective internalization by antigen-presenting cells (RAW264.7 and BMDCs) but also obviously enhances cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12) secretion for further immune response. In vivo, the nanovaccine cooperating with OVA model antigens and CpG adjuvants stimulated an antigen-specific CD8⁺T cell response, significantly preventing the lung metastases of melanoma. In the B16-OVA tumor-bearing model, the growth inhibition rate of melanoma reached up to 50%. Similarly, the DNA nanodevice with neoantigen induced up to a maximum degree of complete MC-38 tumor regression in 80% of mice, possibly owing to antigen peptide reversible release driven by sulfonium and further cross-presentation. In brief, this study demonstrates that DNA nanodevices with sulfonium centers can provide a precise, biocompatible, and effective co-delivery vaccine platform for tumor immunotherapy and prevention.

Immunology Meets Bioengineering: Improving the Effectiveness of Glioblastoma Immunotherapy

Glioblastoma (GBM) therapy has seen little change over the past two decades. Surgical excision followed by radiation and chemotherapy is the current gold standard treatment. Immunotherapy techniques have recently transformed many cancer treatments, and GBM is now at the forefront of immunotherapy research. GBM immunotherapy prospects are reviewed here, with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors and oncolytic viruses. Various forms of nanomaterials to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness are also discussed. For GBM treatment and immunotherapy, we outline the specific properties of nanomaterials. In addition, we provide a short overview of several 3D (bio)printing techniques and their applications in stimulating the GBM microenvironment. Lastly, the susceptibility of GBM cancer cells to the various immunotherapy methods will be addressed.