Enhancing T cell therapy through TCR-signaling-responsive nanoparticle drug delivery

Nanomaterials Boost CAR-T Therapy for Solid Tumors

T cell engineering, particularly via chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modifications for enhancing tumor specificity, has shown efficacy in treating hematologic malignancies. The extension of CAR-T cell therapy to solid tumors, however, is impeded by several challenges: The absence of tumor-specific antigens, antigen heterogeneity, a complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and physical barriers to cell infiltration. Additionally, limitations in CAR-T cell manufacturing capacity and the high costs associated with these therapies restrict their widespread application. The integration of nanomaterials into CAR-T cell production and application offers a promising avenue to mitigate these challenges. Utilizing nanomaterials in the production of CAR-T cells can decrease product variability and lower production expenses, positively impacting the targeting and persistence of CAR-T cells in treatment and minimizing adverse effects. This review comprehensively evaluates the use of various nanomaterials in the production of CAR-T cells, genetic modification, and in vivo delivery. It discusses their underlying mechanisms and potential for clinical application, with a focus on improving specificity and safety in CAR-T cell therapy.

Advanced strategies in improving the immunotherapeutic effect of CAR-T cell therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cell therapy is a newly developed immunotherapy strategy and has achieved satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, some adverse effects related to CAR-T cell therapy have to be resolved before it is widely used in clinics as a cancer treatment. Furthermore, the application of CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of solid tumors has been hampered by numerous limitations. Therefore, it is essential to explore novel strategies to improve the therapeutic effect of CAR-T cell therapy. In this review, we summarized the recently developed strategies aimed at optimizing the generation of CAR-T cells and improving the anti-tumor efficiency of CAR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, the discovery of new targets for CAR-T cell therapy and the combined treatment strategies of CAR-T cell therapy with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cancer vaccines and nanomaterials are highlighted.

Lipid-based nanosystems: the next generation of cancer immune therapy

Immunotherapy has become an important part of the oncotherapy arsenal. Its applicability in various cancer types is impressive, as well as its use of endogenous mechanisms to achieve desired ends. However, off-target or on-target-off-tumor toxicity, limited activity, lack of control in combination treatments and, especially for solid tumors, low local accumulation, have collectively limited clinical use thereof. These limitations are partially alleviated by delivery systems. Lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as revolutionary carriers due to favorable physicochemical characteristics, with specific applications and strengths particularly useful in immunotherapeutic agent delivery. The aim of this review is to highlight the challenges faced by immunotherapy and how lipid-based NPs have been, and may be further utilized to address such challenges. We discuss recent fundamental and clinical applications of NPs in a range of areas and provide a detailed discussion of the main obstacles in immune checkpoint inhibition therapies, adoptive cellular therapies, and cytokine therapies. We highlight how lipid-based nanosystems could address these through either delivery, direct modulation of the immune system, or targeting of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We explore advanced and emerging liposomal and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) systems for nucleic acid delivery, intrinsic and extrinsic stimulus-responsive formulations, and biomimetic lipid-based nanosystems in immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the key challenges relating to the clinical use of lipid-based NP immunotherapies, suggesting future research directions for the near term to realize the potential of these innovative lipid-based nanosystems, as they become the crucial steppingstone towards the necessary enhancement of the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Advancements in nanomedicine delivery systems: unraveling immune regulation strategies for tumor immunotherapy

This review highlights the significant role of nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) in enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. Focusing on the integration of NDDS with immune regulation strategies, it explores their transformative impacts on the tumor microenvironment and immune response dynamics. Key advancements include the optimization of drug delivery through NDDS, targeting mechanisms like immune checkpoint blockade and modulating the immunosuppressive tumor environment. Despite the progress, challenges such as limited clinical efficacy and complex manufacturing processes persist. The review emphasizes the need for further research to optimize these systems, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment by improving delivery efficiency, reducing toxicity and overcoming immune resistance.

Recent Advancements in Biomaterials for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Immunotherapy

Cellular immunotherapy is an innovative cancer treatment method that utilizes the patient's own immune system to combat tumor cells effectively. Currently, the mainstream therapeutic approaches include chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, T cell receptor gene-modified T cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor natural killer-cell therapy with CAR-T therapy mostly advanced. Nonetheless, the conventional manufacturing process of this therapy has shortcomings in each step that call for improvement. Marked efforts have been invested for its enhancement while notable progresses achieved in the realm of biomaterials application. With CAR-T therapy as a prime example, the aim of this review is to comprehensively discuss the various biomaterials used in cell immunotherapy, their roles in regulating immune cells, and their potential for breakthroughs in cancer treatment from gene transduction to efficacy enhancement. This article additionally addressed widely adopted animal models for efficacy evaluating.

Engineering antigen-presenting cells for immunotherapy of autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases are burdensome conditions that affect a significant fraction of the global population. The hallmark of autoimmune disease is a host's immune system being licensed to attack its tissues based on specific antigens. There are no cures for autoimmune diseases. The current clinical standard for treating autoimmune diseases is the administration of immunosuppressants, which weaken the immune system and reduce auto-inflammatory responses. However, people living with autoimmune diseases are subject to toxicity, fail to mount a sufficient immune response to protect against pathogens, and are more likely to develop infections. Therefore, there is a concerted effort to develop more effective means of targeting immunomodulatory therapies to antigen-presenting cells, which are involved in modulating the immune responses to specific antigens. In this review, we highlight approaches that are currently in development to target antigen-presenting cells and improve therapeutic outcomes in autoimmune diseases.

Cell-drug conjugates

By combining living cells with therapeutics, cell-drug conjugates can potentiate the functions of both components, particularly for applications in drug delivery and therapy. The conjugates can be designed to persist in the bloodstream, undergo chemotaxis, evade surveillance by the immune system, proliferate, or maintain or transform their cellular phenotypes. In this Review, we discuss strategies for the design of cell-drug conjugates with specific functions, the techniques for their preparation, and their applications in the treatment of cancers, autoimmune diseases and other pathologies. We also discuss the translational challenges and opportunities of this class of drug-delivery systems and therapeutics.

Harnessing the potential of hydrogels for advanced therapeutic applications: current achievements and future directions

The applications of hydrogels have expanded significantly due to their versatile, highly tunable properties and breakthroughs in biomaterial technologies. In this review, we cover the major achievements and the potential of hydrogels in therapeutic applications, focusing primarily on two areas: emerging cell-based therapies and promising non-cell therapeutic modalities. Within the context of cell therapy, we discuss the capacity of hydrogels to overcome the existing translational challenges faced by mainstream cell therapy paradigms, provide a detailed discussion on the advantages and principal design considerations of hydrogels for boosting the efficacy of cell therapy, as well as list specific examples of their applications in different disease scenarios. We then explore the potential of hydrogels in drug delivery, physical intervention therapies, and other non-cell therapeutic areas (e.g., bioadhesives, artificial tissues, and biosensors), emphasizing their utility beyond mere delivery vehicles. Additionally, we complement our discussion on the latest progress and challenges in the clinical application of hydrogels and outline future research directions, particularly in terms of integration with advanced biomanufacturing technologies. This review aims to present a comprehensive view and critical insights into the design and selection of hydrogels for both cell therapy and non-cell therapies, tailored to meet the therapeutic requirements of diverse diseases and situations.

M1-polarized macrophage-derived cellular nanovesicle-coated lipid nanoparticles for enhanced cancer treatment through hybridization of gene therapy and cancer immunotherapy

Optimum genetic delivery for modulating target genes to diseased tissue is a major obstacle for profitable gene therapy. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), considered a prospective vehicle for nucleic acid delivery, have demonstrated efficacy in human use during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study introduces a novel biomaterial-based platform, M1-polarized macrophage-derived cellular nanovesicle-coated LNPs (M1-C-LNPs), specifically engineered for a combined gene-immunotherapy approach against solid tumor. The dual-function system of M1-C-LNPs encapsulates Bcl2-targeting siRNA within LNPs and immune-modulating cytokines within M1 macrophage-derived cellular nanovesicles (M1-NVs), effectively facilitating apoptosis in cancer cells without impacting T and NK cells, which activate the intratumoral immune response to promote granule-mediating killing for solid tumor eradication. Enhanced retention within tumor was observed upon intratumoral administration of M1-C-LNPs, owing to the presence of adhesion molecules on M1-NVs, thereby contributing to superior tumor growth inhibition. These findings represent a promising strategy for the development of targeted and effective nanoparticle-based cancer genetic-immunotherapy, with significant implications for advancing biomaterial use in cancer therapeutics.

Breast Cancer Treatment Strategies Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment: How to Convert "Cold" Tumors to "Hot" Tumors

Breast cancer characterized as "cold tumors" exhibit low levels of immune cell infiltration, which limits the efficacy of conventional immunotherapy. Recent studies have focused on strategies using nanotechnology combined with tumor microenvironment modulation to transform "cold tumors" into "hot tumors". This approach involves the use of functionalized nanoparticles that target and modify the tumor microenvironment to promote the infiltration and activation of antitumor immune cells. By delivering immune activators or blocking immunosuppressive signals, these nanoparticles activate otherwise dormant immune responses, enhancing tumor immunogenicity and the therapeutic response. These strategies not only promise to increase the response rate of breast cancer patients to existing immunotherapies but also may pave new therapeutic avenues, providing a new direction for the immunotherapy of breast cancer.

Organic Semiconducting Sono-Metallo-Detonated Immunobombs for Ultrasensitized Domestication of Immunosuppressive Cells

Cancer immunotherapy harnesses the immune system to combat cancer, yet tumors often evade immune surveillance through immunosuppressive cells. Herein, we report an organic semiconducting sono-metallo-detonated immunobomb (SMIB) to spatiotemporally tame immunosuppressive cells in situ. SMIB consists of an amphiphilic semiconducting polymer (SP) with a repeatable thiophene-based Schiff base serving as an iron ion chelator (Fe3+). SMIB increases sonochemical activity through iron chelation and reduces immunosuppressive cell differentiation with metals and sonochemicals, thereby decreasing the irradiation dose. Upon ultrasound irradiation, SMIB acts as a sono-metallo-detonated immunobomb and inhibits Tregs via the mTOR pathway and M2 macrophage polarization through GPX4 regulation. Ultrasensitized sono-generated reactive oxygen species also promote activation of antigen-presenting cells in deep solid tumors (1 cm), resulting in cytotoxic T cell infiltration and enhanced antitumor efficacy. This platform provides a versatile approach for synergistic sono- and metalloregulation of immunosuppressive cells in situ.

Dendritic Cell Immune Modulation via Polyphenol Membrane Coatings

Cellular hitchhiking is an emerging strategy for the in vivo control of adoptively transferred immune cells. Hitchhiking approaches are primarily mediated by adhesion of nano and microparticles to the cell membrane, which conveys an ability to modulate transferred cells via local drug delivery. Although T cell therapies employing this strategy have progressed into the clinic, phagocytic cells including dendritic cells (DCs) are much more challenging to engineer. DC vaccines hold great potential for a spectrum of diseases, and the combination drug delivery is an attractive strategy to manipulate their function and overcome in vivo plasticity. However, DCs are not compatible with current hitchhiking approaches due to their broad phagocytic capacity. In this work, we developed and validated META (membrane engineering using tannic acid) to enable DC cellular hitchhiking for the first time. META employs the polyphenol tannic acid (TA) to facilitate supramolecular assembly of protein drug cargoes on the cell membrane, enabling the creation of cell surface-bound formulations for local drug delivery to carrier DCs. We optimized META formulations to incorporate and release protein cargoes with varying physical properties alone and in combination and to preserve DC viability and critical functions such as migration. We further show that META loaded with either a pro- or anti-inflammatory cargo can influence the carrier cell phenotype, thus demonstrating the flexibility of the approach for applications from cancer to autoimmune disease. Overall, this approach illustrates a new platform for the local control of phagocytic immune cells as a next step to advance DC therapies in the clinic.

A Triple-Responsive Polymeric Prodrug Nanoplatform with Extracellular ROS Consumption and Intracellular H2O2 Self-Generation for Imaging-Guided Tumor Chemo-Ferroptosis-Immunotherapy

High reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in tumor microenvironment (TME) impair both immunogenic cell death (ICD) efficacy and T cell activity. Furthermore, tumor escapes immunosurveillance via programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) signal, and the insufficient intracellular hydrogen peroxide weakens ferroptosis efficacy. To tackle the above issues, a glutathione (GSH)/ROS/pH triple-responsive prodrug nanomedicine that encapsulates Fe2O3 nanoparticle via electrostatic interaction is constructed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided multi-mode theranostics with chemotherapy/ferroptosis/immunotherapy. The diselenide bond consumes ROS in TME to increase T cells and ICD efficacy, the cleavage of which facilitates PD-L1 antagonist D peptide release to block immune checkpoint. After intracellular internalization, Fe2O3 nanoparticle is released in the acidic endosome for MRI simultaneously with lipid peroxides generation for tumor ferroptosis. Doxorubicin is cleaved from polymers in the condition of high intracellular GSH level accompanied by tumor ICD, which simultaneously potentiates ferroptosis by NADPH oxidase mediated H2O2 self-generation. In vivo results indicate that the nanoplatform strengthens tumor ICD, induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes proliferation, inhibits 4T1 tumor regression and metastasis, and prolongs survival median. In all, a new strategy is proposed in strengthening ICD and T cells activity cascade with ferroptosis as well as immune checkpoint blockade for effective tumor immunotherapy.

Regulation of CTLs/Tregs via Highly Stable and Ultrasound-Responsive Cerasomal Nano-Modulators for Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is showing good potential for colorectal cancer therapy, however, low responsive rates and severe immune-related drug side effects still hamper its therapeutic effectiveness. Herein, a highly stable cerasomal nano-modulator (DMC@P-Cs) with ultrasound (US)-controlled drug delivery capability for selective sonodynamic-immunotherapy is fabricated. DMC@P-Cs' lipid bilayer is self-assembled from cerasome-forming lipid (CFL), pyrophaeophorbid conjugated lipid (PL), and phospholipids containing unsaturated chemical bonds (DOPC), resulting in US-responsive lipid shell. Demethylcantharidin (DMC) as an immunotherapy adjuvant is loaded in the hydrophilic core of DMC@P-Cs. With US irradiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be effectively generated from DMC@P-Cs, which can not only kill tumor cells for inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), but also oxidize unsaturated phospholipids-DOPC to change the permeability of the lipid bilayers and facilitate controlled release of DMC, thus resulting in down-regulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and amplification of anti-tumor immune responses. After intravenous injection, DMC@P-Cs can efficiently accumulate at the tumor site, and local US treatment resulted in 94.73% tumor inhibition rate. In addition, there is no detectable systemic toxicity. Therefore, this study provides a highly stable and US-controllable smart delivery system to achieve synergistical sonodynamic-immunotherapy for enhanced colorectal cancer therapy.

Genetically Engineered Macrophages Co-Loaded with CD47 Inhibitors Synergistically Reconstruct Efferocytosis and Improve Cardiac Remodeling Post Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Efferocytosis, mediated by the macrophage receptor MerTK (myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase), is a significant contributor to cardiac repair after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) injury. However, the death of resident cardiac macrophages (main effector cells), inactivation of MerTK （main effector receptor), and overexpression of "do not eat me" signals (brake signals, such as CD47), collectively lead to the impediment of efferocytosis in the post-MI/R heart. To date, therapeutic strategies targeting individual above obstacles are relatively lacking, let alone their effectiveness being limited due to constraints from the other concurrent two. Herein, inspired by the application research of chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (CAR-Ms) in solid tumors, a genetically modified macrophage-based synergistic drug delivery strategy that effectively challenging the three major barriers in an integrated manner is developed. This strategy involves the overexpression of exogenous macrophages with CCR2 (C-C chemokine receptor type 2) and cleavage-resistant MerTK, as well as surface clicking with liposomal PEP-20 (a CD47 antagonist). In MI/R mice model, this synergistic strategy can effectively restore cardiac efferocytosis after intravenous injection, thereby alleviating the inflammatory response, ultimately preserving cardiac function. This therapy focuses on inhibiting the initiation and promoting active resolution of inflammation, providing new insights for immune-regulatory therapy.

Lyophilized lymph nodes for improved delivery of chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Lymph nodes are crucial organs of the adaptive immune system, orchestrating T cell priming, activation and tolerance. T cell activity and function are highly regulated by lymph nodes, which have a unique structure harbouring distinct cells that work together to detect and respond to pathogen-derived antigens. Here we show that implanted patient-derived freeze-dried lymph nodes loaded with chimeric antigen receptor T cells improve delivery to solid tumours and inhibit tumour recurrence after surgery. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells can be effectively loaded into lyophilized lymph nodes, whose unaltered meshwork and cytokine and chemokine contents promote chimeric antigen receptor T cell viability and activation. In mouse models of cell-line-derived human cervical cancer and patient-derived pancreatic cancer, delivery of chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting mesothelin via the freeze-dried lymph nodes is more effective in preventing tumour recurrence when compared to hydrogels containing T-cell-supporting cytokines. This tissue-mediated cell delivery strategy holds promise for controlled release of various cells and therapeutics with long-term activity and augmented function.

Tailored design of NHS-SS-NHS cross-linked chitosan nano-hydrogels for enhanced anti-tumor efficacy by GSH-responsive drug release

The traditional chemotherapeutic agents' disadvantages such as high toxicity, untargeting and poor water solubility lead to disappointing chemotherapy effects, which restricts its clinical application. In this work, novel size-appropriate and glutathione (GSH)-responsive nano-hydrogels were successfully prepared via the active ester method between chitosan (containing -NH2) and cross-linker (containing NHS). Especially, the cross-linker was elaborately designed to possess a disulfide linkage (SS) as well as two terminal NHS groups, namely NHS-SS-NHS. These functionalities endowed chitosan-based cross-linked scaffolds with capabilities for drug loading and delivery, as well as a GSH-responsive mechanism for drug release. The prepared nano-hydrogels demonstrated excellent performance applicable morphology, excellent drug loading efficiency (∼22.5%), suitable size (∼100 nm) and long-term stability. The prepared nano-hydrogels released over 80% doxorubicin (DOX) after incubation in 10 mM GSH while a minimal DOX release less than 25% was tested in normal physiological buffer (pH = 7.4). The unloaded nano-hydrogels did not show any apparent cytotoxicity to A 549 cells. In contrast, DOX-loaded nano-hydrogels exhibited marked anti-tumor activity against A 549 cells, especially in high GSH environment. Finally, through fluorescent imaging and flow cytometry analysis, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled nano-hydrogels show obvious specific binding to the GSH high-expressing A549 cells and nonspecific binding to the GSH low-expressing A549 cells. Therefore, with this cross-linking approach, our present finding suggests that cross-linked chitosan nano-hydrogel drug carrier improves the anti-tumor effect of the A 549 cells and may serve as a potential injectable delivery carrier.

Cell-membrane engineering strategies for clinic-guided design of nanomedicine

Cells are the fundamental units of life. The cell membrane primarily composed of two layers of phospholipids (a bilayer) structurally defines the boundary of a cell, which can protect its interior from external disturbances and also selectively exchange substances and conduct signals from the extracellular environment. The complexity and particularity of transmembrane proteins provide the foundation for versatile cellular functions. Nanomedicine as an emerging therapeutic strategy holds tremendous potential in the healthcare field. However, it is susceptible to recognition and clearance by the immune system. To overcome this bottleneck, the technology of cell membrane coating has been extensively used in nanomedicines for their enhanced therapeutic efficacy, attributed to the favorable fluidity and biocompatibility of cell membranes with various membrane-anchored proteins. Meanwhile, some engineering strategies of cell membranes through various chemical, physical and biological ways have been progressively developed to enable their versatile therapeutic functions against complex diseases. In this review, we summarized the potential clinical applications of four typical cell membranes, elucidated their underlying therapeutic mechanisms, and outlined their current engineering approaches. In addition, we further discussed the limitation of this technology of cell membrane coating in clinical applications, and possible solutions to address these challenges.

Nano-Engineering Strategies for Tumor-Specific Therapy

Nanodelivery systems (NDSs) provide promising prospects for decreasing drug doses, reducing side effects, and improving therapeutic effects. However, the bioapplications of NDSs are still compromised by their fast clearance, indiscriminate biodistribution, and limited tumor accumulation. Hence, engineering modification of NDSs aiming at promoting tumor-specific therapy and avoiding systemic toxicity is usually needed. An NDS integrating various functionalities, including flexible camouflage, specific biorecognition, and sensitive stimuli-responsiveness, into one sequence would be "smart" and highly effective. Herein, we systematically summarize the related principles, methods, and progress. At the end of the review, we predict the obstacles to precise nanoengineering and prospects for the future application of NDSs.

Advances in traditional herbal formulation based nano-vaccine for cancer immunotherapy: Unraveling the enigma of complex tumor environment and multidrug resistance

Cancer is attributed to uncontrolled cell growth and is among the leading causes of death with no known effective treatment while complex tumor microenvironment (TME) and multidrug resistance (MDR) are major challenges for developing an effective therapeutic strategy. Advancement in cancer immunotherapy has been limited by the over-activation of the host immune response that ultimately affects healthy tissues or organs and leads to a feeble response of the patient's immune system against tumor cells. Besides, traditional herbal medicines (THM) have been well-known for their essential role in the treatment of cancer and are considered relatively safe due to their compatibility with the human body. Yet, poor solubility, low bio-availability, and lack of understanding about their pathophysiological mechanism halt their clinical application. Moreover, considering the complex TME and drug resistance, the most precarious and least discussed concerns for developing THM-based nano-vaccination, are identification of specific biomarkers for drug inhibitory protein and targeted delivery of bioactive ingredients of THM on the specific sites in tumor cells. The concept of THM-based nano-vaccination indicates immunomodulation of TME by THM-based bioactive adjuvants, exerting immunomodulatory effects, via targeted inhibition of key proteins involved in the metastasis of cancer. However, this concept is at its nascent stage and very few preclinical studies provided the evidence to support clinical translation. Therefore, we attempted to capsulize previously reported studies highlighting the role of THM-based nano-medicine in reducing the risk of MDR and combating complex tumor environments to provide a reference for future study design by discussing the challenges and opportunities for developing an effective and safe therapeutic strategy against cancer.

Enhancing CAR Macrophage Efferocytosis Via Surface Engineered Lipid Nanoparticles Targeting LXR Signaling

The removal of dying cells, or efferocytosis, is an indispensable part of resolving inflammation. However, the inflammatory microenvironment of the atherosclerotic plaque frequently affects the biology of both apoptotic cells and resident phagocytes, rendering efferocytosis dysfunctional. To overcome this problem, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophage that can target and engulf phagocytosis-resistant apoptotic cells expressing CD47 is developed. In both normal and inflammatory circumstances, CAR macrophages exhibit activity equivalent to antibody blockage. The surface of CAR macrophages is modified with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive therapeutic nanoparticles targeting the liver X receptor pathway to improve their cell effector activities. The combination of CAR and nanoparticle engineering activated lipid efflux pumps enhances cell debris clearance and reduces inflammation. It is further suggested that the undifferentiated CAR-Ms can transmigrate within a mico-fabricated vessel system. It is also shown that our CAR macrophage can act as a chimeric switch receptor (CSR) to withstand the immunosuppressive inflammatory environment. The developed platform has the potential to contribute to the advancement of next-generation cardiovascular disease therapies and further studies include in vivo experiments.

Evolving Tumor Characteristics and Smart Nanodrugs for Tumor Immunotherapy

Typical physiological characteristics of tumors, such as weak acidity, low oxygen content, and upregulation of certain enzymes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), provide survival advantages when exposed to targeted attacks by drugs and responsive nanomedicines. Consequently, cancer treatment has significantly progressed in recent years. However, the evolution and adaptation of tumor characteristics still pose many challenges for current treatment methods. Therefore, efficient and precise cancer treatments require an understanding of the heterogeneity degree of various factors in cancer cells during tumor evolution to exploit the typical TME characteristics and manage the mutation process. The highly heterogeneous tumor and infiltrating stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular components collectively form a unique TME, which plays a crucial role in tumor malignancy, including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and immune escape. Therefore, the development of new treatment methods that can adapt to the evolutionary characteristics of tumors has become an intense focus in current cancer treatment research. This paper explores the latest understanding of cancer evolution, focusing on how tumors use new antigens to shape their "new faces"; how immune system cells, such as cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, help tumors become "invisible", that is, immune escape; whether the diverse cancer-associated fibroblasts provide support and coordination for tumors; and whether it is possible to attack tumors in reverse. This paper discusses the limitations of targeted therapy driven by tumor evolution factors and explores future strategies and the potential of intelligent nanomedicines, including the systematic coordination of tumor evolution factors and adaptive methods, to meet this therapeutic challenge.

Engineering unactivated platelets for targeted drug delivery

As a vital component of blood, platelets play crucial roles in hemostasis and maintaining vascular integrity, and actively participate in inflammation and immune regulation. The unique biological properties of natural platelets have enabled their utilization as drug delivery vehicles. The advancement and integration of various techniques, including biological, chemical, and physicochemical methods, have enabled the preparation of engineered platelets. Platelets can serve as drug delivery platforms combined with immunotherapy and chemokine therapy to enhance their therapeutic impact. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the application of unactivated platelets for drug delivery. The construction strategies of engineered platelets are comprehensively summarized, encompassing internal loading, surface modification, and genetic engineering techniques. Engineered platelets hold vast potential for treating cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. Furthermore, the challenges and potential considerations in creating engineered platelets with natural activity are discussed.

Enhancing Glioblastoma Immunotherapy with Integrated Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells through the Re-Education of Tumor-Associated Microglia and Macrophages

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer that is highly resistant to treatment including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs) are major contributors to the immunosuppressive GBM microenvironment, which promotes tumor progression and treatment resistance. Hence, the modulation of TAMs is a promising strategy for improving the immunotherapeutic efficacy of CAR-T cells against GBM. Molecularly targeting drug pexidartinib (PLX) has been reported to re-educate TAMs toward the antitumorigenic M1-like phenotype. Here, we developed a cell-drug integrated technology to reversibly conjugate PLX-containing liposomes (PLX-Lip) to CAR-T cells and establish tumor-responsive integrated CAR-T cells (PLX-Lip/AZO-T cells) as a combination therapy for GBM. We used a mouse model of GBM to show that PLX-Lip was stably maintained on the surface of PLX-Lip/AZO-T cells in circulation and these cells could transmigrate across the blood-brain barrier and deposit PLX-Lip at the tumor site. The uptake of PLX-Lip by TAMs effectively re-educated them into the M1-like phenotype, which in turn boosted the antitumor function of CAR-T cells. GBM tumor growth was completely eradicated in 60% of the mice after receiving PLX-Lip/AZO-T cells and extended their overall survival time beyond 50 days; in comparison, the median survival time of mice in other treatment groups did not exceed 35 days. Overall, we demonstrated the successful fusion of CAR-T cells and small-molecule drugs with the cell-drug integrated technology. These integrated CAR-T cells provided a superior combination strategy for GBM treatment and presented a reference for the construction of integrated cell-based drugs.

Catalytic Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications: Exploiting Advanced Nanozymes for Therapeutics and Diagnostics

Catalytic nanoparticles (CNPs) as heterogeneous catalyst reveals superior activity due to their physio-chemical features, such as high surface-to-volume ratio and unique optical, electric, and magnetic properties. The CNPs, based on their physio-chemical nature, can either increase the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level for tumor and antibacterial therapy or eliminate the ROS for cytoprotection, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging. In addition, the catalytic activity of nanozymes can specifically trigger a specific reaction accompanied by the optical feature change, presenting the feasibility of biosensor and bioimaging applications. Undoubtedly, CNPs play a pivotal role in pushing the evolution of technologies in medical and clinical fields, and advanced strategies and nanomaterials rely on the input of chemical experts to develop. Herein, a systematic and comprehensive review of the challenges and recent development of CNPs for biomedical applications is presented from the viewpoint of advanced nanomaterial with unique catalytic activity and additional functions. Furthermore, the biosafety issue of applying biodegradable and non-biodegradable nanozymes and future perspectives are critically discussed to guide a promising direction in developing span-new nanozymes and more intelligent strategies for overcoming the current clinical limitations.

Nanodrug Delivery Systems in Antitumor Immunotherapy

Cancer has become one of the most important factors threatening human health, and the global cancer burden has been increasing rapidly. Immunotherapy has become another clinical research hotspot after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy because of its high efficiency and tumor metastasis prevention. However, problems such as lower immune response rate and immune-related adverse reaction in the clinical application of immunotherapy need to be urgently solved. With the development of nanodrug delivery systems, various nanocarrier materials have been used in the research of antitumor immunotherapy with encouraging therapeutic results. In this review, we mainly summarized the combination of nanodrug delivery systems and immunotherapy from the following 4 aspects: (a) nanodrug delivery systems combined with cytokine therapy to improve cytokines delivery in vivo; (b) nanodrug delivery systems provided a suitable platform for the combination of immune checkpoint blockade therapy with other tumor treatments; (c) nanodrug delivery systems helped deliver antigens and adjuvants for tumor vaccines to enhance immune effects; and (d) nanodrug delivery systems improved tumor treatment efficiency and reduced toxicity for adoptive cell therapy. Nanomaterials chosen by researchers to construct nanodrug delivery systems and their function were also introduced in detail. Finally, we discussed the current challenges and future prospects in combining nanodrug delivery systems with immunotherapy.

Cell-mediated nanoparticle delivery systems: towards precision nanomedicine

Cell-mediated nanoparticle delivery systems (CMNDDs) utilize cells as carriers to deliver the drug-loaded nanoparticles. Unlike the traditional nanoparticle drug delivery approaches, CMNDDs take the advantages of cell characteristics, such as the homing capabilities of stem cells, inflammatory chemotaxis of neutrophils, prolonged blood circulation of red blood cells, and internalization of macrophages. Subsequently, CMNDDs can easily prolong the blood circulation, cross biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier and the bone marrow-blood barrier, and rapidly arrive at the diseased areas. Such advantageous properties make CMNDDs promising delivery candidates for precision targeting. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in CMNDDs fabrication and biomedical applications. Specifically, ligand-receptor interactions, non-covalent interactions, covalent interactions, and internalization are commonly applied in constructing CMNDDs in vitro. By hitchhiking cells, such as macrophages, red blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and platelets, nanoparticles can be internalized or attached to cells to construct CMNDDs in vivo. Then we highlight the recent application of CMNDDs in treating different diseases, such as cancer, central nervous system disorders, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, with a brief discussion about challenges and future perspectives in the end.

Nanoparticles in tumor microenvironment remodeling and cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development have significantly improved the fight against cancers. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly in the clinical delivery of immunomodulatory compounds. The tumor microenvironment (TME), comprising macrophages, fibroblasts, and immune cells, plays a crucial role in immune response modulation. Nanoparticles, engineered to reshape the TME, have shown promising results in enhancing immunotherapy by facilitating targeted delivery and immune modulation. These nanoparticles can suppress fibroblast activation, promote M1 macrophage polarization, aid dendritic cell maturation, and encourage T cell infiltration. Biomimetic nanoparticles further enhance immunotherapy by increasing the internalization of immunomodulatory agents in immune cells such as dendritic cells. Moreover, exosomes, whether naturally secreted by cells in the body or bioengineered, have been explored to regulate the TME and immune-related cells to affect cancer immunotherapy. Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, activated by pH, redox, and light conditions, exhibit the potential to accelerate immunotherapy. The co-application of nanoparticles with immune checkpoint inhibitors is an emerging strategy to boost anti-tumor immunity. With their ability to induce long-term immunity, nanoarchitectures are promising structures in vaccine development. This review underscores the critical role of nanoparticles in overcoming current challenges and driving the advancement of cancer immunotherapy and TME modification.

A redox-responsive prodrug for tumor-targeted glutamine restriction

Modulating the metabolism of cancer cells, immune cells, or both is a promising strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy in the nutrient-competitive tumor microenvironment. Glutamine has emerged as an ideal target as cancer cells highly rely on glutamine for replenishing the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the process of aerobic glycolysis. However, non-specific glutamine restriction may induce adverse effects in unconcerned tissues and therefore glutamine inhibitors have achieved limited success in the clinic so far. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of a redox-responsive prodrug of 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (redox-DON) for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition. When applied to treat mice bearing subcutaneous CT26 mouse colon carcinoma, redox-DON exhibited equivalent antitumor efficacy but a greatly improved safety profile, particularly, in spleen and gastrointestinal tract, as compared to the state-of-the-art DON prodrug, JHU083. Furthermore, redox-DON synergized with checkpoint blockade antibodies leading to durable cures in tumor-bearing mice. Our results suggest that redox-DON is a safe and effective therapeutic for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition showing promise for enhanced metabolic modulatory immunotherapy. The approach of reversible chemical modification may be generalized to other metabolic modulatory drugs that suffer from overt toxicity.

Immune cells: potential carriers or agents for drug delivery to the central nervous system

Drug delivery systems (DDS) have recently emerged as a promising approach for the unique advantages of drug protection and targeted delivery. However, the access of nanoparticles/drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge mainly due to the obstruction from brain barriers. Immune cells infiltrating the CNS in the pathological state have inspired the development of strategies for CNS foundation drug delivery. Herein, we outline the three major brain barriers in the CNS and the mechanisms by which immune cells migrate across the blood-brain barrier. We subsequently review biomimetic strategies utilizing immune cell-based nanoparticles for the delivery of nanoparticles/drugs to the CNS, as well as recent progress in rationally engineering immune cell-based DDS for CNS diseases. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of immune cell-based DDS in CNS diseases to promote their clinical development.

Lung metastasis-Harnessed in-Situ adherent porous organic nanosponge-mediated antigen capture for A self-cascaded detained dendritic cells and T cell infiltration

The infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes promises to suppress the most irresistible metastatic tumor for immunotherapy, yet immune privilege and low immunogenic responses in these aggressive clusters often restrict lymphocyte recruitment. Here, an in situ adherent porous organic nanosponge (APON) doubles as organ selection agent and antigen captor to overcome immune privilege is developed. With selective organ targeting, the geometric effect of APON composed of disc catechol-functionalized covalent organic framework (COF) boosts the drug delivery to lung metastases. Along with a self-cascaded immune therapy, the therapeutic agents promote tumor release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and then, in situ deposition of gels to capture these antigens. Furthermore, APON with catechol analogs functions as a reservoir of antigens and delivers autologous DAMPs to detain dendritic cells, resulting in a sustained enhancement of immunity. This disc sponges (APON) at lung metastasis as antigen reservoirs and immune modulators effectively suppress the tumor in 60 days and enhanced the survival rate.

Engineering approaches for innate immune-mediated tumor microenvironment remodeling

Cancer immunotherapy offers transformative promise particularly for the treatment of lethal cancers, since a correctly trained immune system can comprehensively orchestrate tumor clearance with no need for continued therapeutic intervention. Historically, the majority of immunotherapies have been T cell-focused and have included immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and T-cell vaccines. Unfortunately T-cell-focused therapies have failed to achieve optimal efficacy in most solid tumors largely because of a highly immunosuppressed 'cold' or immune-excluded tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, a rapidly growing treatment paradigm has emerged that focuses on activation of tumor-resident innate antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, which can drive a proinflammatory immune response to remodel the TME from 'cold' or immune-excluded to 'hot'. Early strategies for TME remodeling centered on free cytokines and agonists, but these approaches have faced significant hurdles in both delivery and efficacy. Systemic toxicity from off-target inflammation is a paramount concern in these therapies. To address this critical gap, engineering approaches have provided the opportunity to add 'built-in' capabilities to cytokines, agonists, and other therapeutic agents to mediate improved delivery and efficacy. Such capabilities have included protective encapsulation to shield them from degradation, targeting to direct them with high specificity to tumors, and co-delivery strategies to harness synergistic proinflammatory pathways. Here, we review innate immune-mediated TME remodeling engineering approaches that focus on cytokines, innate immune agonists, immunogenic viruses, and cell-based methods, highlighting emerging preclinical approaches and strategies that are either being tested in clinical trials or already Food and Drug Administration approved.

The quest for nanoparticle-powered vaccines in cancer immunotherapy

Despite recent advancements in cancer treatment, this disease still poses a serious threat to public health. Vaccines play an important role in preventing illness by preparing the body's adaptive and innate immune responses to combat diseases. As our understanding of malignancies and their connection to the immune system improves, there has been a growing interest in priming the immune system to fight malignancies more effectively and comprehensively. One promising approach involves utilizing nanoparticle systems for antigen delivery, which has been shown to potentiate immune responses as vaccines and/or adjuvants. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the immunological mechanisms of cancer vaccines while focusing specifically on the recent applications of various types of nanoparticles in the field of cancer immunotherapy. By exploring these recent breakthroughs, we hope to identify significant challenges and obstacles in making nanoparticle-based vaccines and adjuvants feasible for clinical application. This review serves to assess recent breakthroughs in nanoparticle-based cancer vaccinations and shed light on their prospects and potential barriers. By doing so, we aim to inspire future immunotherapies for cancer that harness the potential of nanotechnology to deliver more effective and targeted treatments.

An oncolytic virus-T cell chimera for cancer immunotherapy

The efficacy of oncolytic adenoviruses (OAs) for cancer therapy has been limited by insufficient delivery to tumors after systemic injection and the propensity of OAs to induce the expression of immune checkpoints. To address these limitations, we use T cells to deliver OAs into tumors and engineer the OA to express a Cas9 system targeting the PDL1 gene encoding the immune checkpoint protein PD-L1. By cloaking OAs with cell membranes presenting T cell-specific antigens, we physically conjugated OAs onto T cell surfaces by antigen-receptor interaction. We tested the oncolytic virus-T cell chimera (ONCOTECH) via intravenous delivery in mouse cancer models, including models of melanoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, lung cancer and glioblastoma. In the melanoma model, the in vivo delivery of ONCOTECH resulted in a strong accumulation of OAs in tumor cells, where PD-L1 expression was reduced by 50% and the single administration of ONCOTECH enabled 80% survival over 70 days. Collectively, ONCOTECH represents a promising translational technology to combine virotherapy and cell therapy.

Immunotherapy Innovations in the Fight against Osteosarcoma: Emerging Strategies and Promising Progress

Immunosuppressive elements within the tumor microenvironment are the primary drivers of tumorigenesis and malignant advancement. The presence, as well as the crosstalk between myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), osteosarcoma-associated macrophages (OS-Ms), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and endothelial cells (ECs) with osteosarcoma cells cause the poor prognosis of OS. In addition, the consequent immunosuppressive factors favor the loss of treatment potential. Nanoparticles offer a means to dynamically and locally manipulate immuno-nanoparticles, which present a promising strategy for transforming OS-TME. Additionally, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology is effective in combating OS. This review summarizes the essential mechanisms of immunosuppressive cells in the OS-TME and the current immune-associated strategies. The last part highlights the limitations of existing therapies and offers insights into future research directions.

Lymph Node-Targeted Vaccine Boosting of TCR T-cell Therapy Enhances Antitumor Function and Eradicates Solid Tumors

T-cell receptor (TCR)-modified T-cell therapies have shown promise against solid tumors, but overall therapeutic benefits have been modest due in part to suboptimal T-cell persistence and activation in vivo, alongside potential tumor antigen escape. In this study, we demonstrate an approach to enhance the in vivo persistence and function of TCR T cells through combination with Amphiphile (AMP) vaccination including cognate TCR T peptides. AMP modification improves lymph node targeting of conjugated tumor immunogens and adjuvants, thereby coordinating a robust T cell-activating endogenous immune response. AMP vaccine combination with TCR T-cell therapy led to complete eradication and durable responses against established murine solid tumors refractory to TCR T-cell monotherapy. Enhanced antitumor efficacy was correlated with simultaneous in vivo invigoration of adoptively transferred TCR T cells and in situ expansion of the endogenous antitumor T-cell repertoire. Long-term protection against tumor recurrence in AMP-vaccinated mice was associated with antigen spreading to additional tumor-associated antigens not targeted by vaccination. AMP vaccination further correlated with pro-inflammatory lymph node transcriptional reprogramming and increased antigen presenting-cell maturation, resulting in TCR T-cell expansion and functional enhancement in lymph nodes and solid tumor parenchyma without lymphodepletion. In vitro evaluation of AMP peptides with matched human TCR T cells targeting NY-ESO-1, mutant KRAS, and HPV16 E7 illustrated the clinical potential of AMP vaccination to enhance human TCR T-cell proliferation, activation, and antitumor activity. Taken together, these studies provide rationale and evidence to support clinical evaluation of combining AMP vaccination with TCR T-cell therapies to augment antitumor activity.

Elevating the potential of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors: exploiting biomaterials-based delivery techniques

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exhibit promising progress in addressing hematologic malignancies. However, CAR-T therapy for solid tumors remains limited, with no FDA-approved CAR-T products available for clinical use at present. Primary reasons include insufficient infiltration, accumulation, tumor immunosuppression of the microenvironment, and related side effects. Single utilization of CAR-T cannot effectively overcome these unfavorable obstacles. A probable effective pathway to achieve a better CAR-T therapy effect would be to combine the benefits of biomaterials-based technology. In this article, comprehensive biomaterials strategies to break through these obstacles of CAR-T cell therapy at the tumor sites are summarized, encompassing the following aspects: 1) generating orthotopic CAR-T cells; 2) facilitating CAR-T cell trafficking; 3) stimulating CAR-T cell expansion and infiltration; 4) improving CAR-T cell activity and persistence; 5) reprogramming the immunosuppressive microenvironments. Additionally, future requirements for the development of this field, with a specific emphasis on promoting innovation and facilitating clinical translation, are thoroughly discussed.

Local delivery of cell surface-targeted immunocytokines programs systemic anti-tumor immunity

Cytokine therapies are potent immunotherapy agents but exhibit severe dose-limiting toxicities. One strategy to overcome this involves engineering cytokines for intratumoral retention following local delivery. Here, we develop a localized cytokine therapy that elicits profound anti-tumor immunity by engineered targeting to the ubiquitous leukocyte receptor CD45. We designed CD45-targeted immunocytokines (αCD45-Cyt) that, upon injection, decorated the surface of leukocytes in the tumor and tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) without systemic exposure. αCD45-Cyt therapy eradicated both directly treated tumors and untreated distal lesions in multiple syngeneic mouse tumor models. Mechanistically, αCD45-Cyt triggered prolonged pSTAT signaling and reprogrammed tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the TDLN to exhibit an anti-viral transcriptional signature. CD45 anchoring represents a broad platform for protein retention by host immune cells for use in immunotherapy.

NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy

Natural killer (NK) cells display a unique inherent ability to identify and eliminate virus-infected cells and tumor cells. They are particularly powerful for elimination of hematological cancers, and have attracted considerable interests for therapy of solid tumors. However, the treatment of solid tumors with NK cells are less effective, which can be attributed to the very complicated immunosuppressive microenvironment that may lead to the inactivation, insufficient expansion, short life, and the poor tumor infiltration of NK cells. Fortunately, the development of advanced nanotechnology has provided potential solutions to these issues, and could improve the immunotherapy efficacy of NK cells. In this review, we summarize the activation and inhibition mechanisms of NK cells in solid tumors, and the recent advances in NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy boosted by diverse nanomaterials. We also propose the challenges and opportunities for the clinical application of NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy.

Cell-Based Micro/Nano-Robots for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Micro/nano-robots are powerful tools for biomedical applications and are applied in disease diagnosis, tumor imaging, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. Among the various types of micro-robots, cell-based micro-robots exhibit unique properties because of their different cell sources. In combination with various actuation methods, particularly externally propelled methods, cell-based microrobots have enormous potential for biomedical applications. This review introduces recent progress and applications of cell-based micro/nano-robots. Different actuation methods for micro/nano-robots are summarized, and cell-based micro-robots with different cell templates are introduced. Furthermore, the review focuses on the combination of cell-based micro/nano-robots with precise control using different external fields. Potential challenges, further prospects, and clinical translations are also discussed.

Nanoparticle-based immunoengineering strategies for enhancing cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is a groundbreaking strategy that has revolutionized the field of oncology compared to other therapeutic strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. However, cancer complexity, tumor heterogeneity, and immune escape have become the main hurdles to the clinical application of immunotherapy. Moreover, conventional immunotherapies cause many harmful side effects owing to hyperreactivity in patients, long treatment durations and expensive cost. Nanotechnology is considered a transformative approach that enhances the potency of immunotherapy by capitalizing on the superior physicochemical properties of nanocarriers, creating highly targeted tissue delivery systems. These advantageous features include a substantial specific surface area, which enhances the interaction with the immune system. In addition, the capability to finely modify surface chemistry enables the achievement of controlled and sustained release properties. These advances have significantly increased the potential of immunotherapy, making it more powerful than ever before. In this review, we introduce recent nanocarriers for application in cancer immunotherapy based on strategies that target different main immune cells, including T cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and tumor-associated macrophages. We also provide an overview of the role and significance of nanotechnology in cancer immunotherapy.

Nanomedicine - Immune System Interactions: Limitations and Opportunities for the Treatment of Cancer

Nanoparticles interact with immune cells in many different ways. These interactions are crucially important for determining nanoparticles' ability to be used for cancer therapy. Traditionally, strategies such as PEGylation have been employed to reduce (the kinetics of) nanoparticle uptake by immune cells, to endow them with long circulation properties, and to enable them to exploit the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect to accumulate in tumors. More recently, with immunotherapy becoming an increasingly important cornerstone in the clinical management of cancer, ever more research efforts in academia and industry are focusing on specifically targeting immune cells with nanoparticles. In this chapter, we describe the barriers and opportunities of immune cell targeting with nanoparticles, and we discuss how nanoparticle-based drug delivery to specific immune cell populations in tumors as well as in secondary myeloid and lymphoid organs (such as bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen) can be leveraged to boost the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

A versatile method for conjugating lipid nanoparticles on T cells through combination of click chemistry and metabolic glycoengineering

Cell-mediated drug delivery by conjugating nanomedicine to the surface of living cells is a promising strategy for enhancing the efficacy of both drug delivery and cell therapy. It exploits the tissue homing properties of the specific cell types to overcome in vivo barriers and forms a drug depot by directly putting the therapeutic payload in target cells. An important concern of developing this system is the method to conjugate nanoparticles on cells. Herein, we developed a bioorthogonal T cell conjugation strategy using SPAAC click chemistry, which allows controllable and highly efficient conjugation without affecting the viability and functions of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Azide groups were incorporated on the surface of T cells through metabolic glycoengineering, followed by reacting with dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO) modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs can be conjugated to T cells, allowing for the loading of different drug molecules on the cells. The metabolic engineering and click reaction approach provides a simple and versatile strategy to conjugate NPs to living cells and enable the development of sophisticated therapeutic cell products.

Nanotechnology Applications in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy

Next-generation cancer treatments are expected not only to target cancer cells but also to simultaneously train immune cells to combat cancer while modulating the immune-suppressive environment of tumors and hosts to ensure a robust and lasting response. Achieving this requires carriers that can codeliver multiple therapeutics to the right cancer and/or immune cells while ensuring patient safety. Nanotechnology holds great potential for addressing these challenges. This article highlights the recent advances in nanoimmunotherapeutic development, with a focus on breast cancer. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved remarkable success and lead to cures in some cancers, their response rate in breast cancer is low. The poor response rate in solid tumors is often associated with the low infiltration of anti-cancer T cells and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To enhance anti-cancer T-cell responses, nanoparticles are employed to deliver ICIs, bispecific antibodies, cytokines, and agents that induce immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD). Additionally, nanoparticles are used to manipulate various components of the TME, such as immunosuppressive myeloid cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and fibroblasts to improve T-cell activities. Finally, this article discusses the outlook, challenges, and future directions of nanoimmunotherapeutics.

Evolving CAR-T-Cell Therapy for Cancer Treatment: From Scientific Discovery to Cures

In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy has emerged as the most promising immunotherapy for cancer that typically uses patients' T cells and genetically engineered them to target cancer cells. Although recent improvements in CAR-T-cell therapy have shown remarkable success for treating hematological malignancies, the heterogeneity in tumor antigens and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) limits its efficacy in solid tumors. Despite the enormous efforts that have been made to make CAR-T-cell therapy more effective and have minimal side effects for treating hematological malignancies, more research needs to be conducted regarding its use in the clinic for treating various other types of cancer. The main concern for CAR-T-cell therapy is severe toxicities due to the cytokine release syndrome, whereas the other challenges are associated with complexity and immune-suppressing TME, tumor antigen heterogeneity, the difficulty of cell trafficking, CAR-T-cell exhaustion, and reduced cytotoxicity in the tumor site. This review discussed the latest discoveries in CAR-T-cell therapy strategies and combination therapies, as well as their effectiveness in different cancers. It also encompasses ongoing clinical trials; current challenges regarding the therapeutic use of CAR-T-cell therapy, especially for solid tumors; and evolving treatment strategies to improve the therapeutic application of CAR-T-cell therapy.

Nanoconstruction on Living Cell Surfaces with Cucurbit[7]uril-Based Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry: Toward Cell-Based Delivery of Bio-Orthogonal Catalytic Systems

Employing living cells as carriers to transport transition metal-based catalysts for target-specific bio-orthogonal catalysis represents a cutting-edge approach in advancing precision biomedical applications. One of the initial hurdles in this endeavor involves effectively attaching the catalysts to the carrier cells while preserving the cells' innate ability to interact with biological systems and maintaining the unaltered catalytic activity. In this study, we have developed an innovative layer-by-layer method that leverages a noncovalent interaction between cucurbit[7]uril and adamantane as the primary driving force for crafting polymeric nanostructures on the surfaces of these carrier cells. The strong binding affinity between the host-guest pair ensures the creation of a durable polymer coating on the cell surfaces. Meanwhile, the layer-by-layer process offers high adaptability, facilitating the efficient loading of bio-orthogonal catalysts onto cell surfaces. Importantly, the polymeric coating shows no discernible impact on the cells' physiological characteristics, including their tropism, migration, and differentiation, while preserving the effectiveness of the bio-orthogonal catalysts.

"Ice and Fire" Supramolecular Cell-Conjugation Drug Delivery Platform for Deep Tumor Ablation and Boosted Antitumor Immunity

Cancer recurrence and metastasis are two major challenges in the current clinical therapy. In this work, a novel diketopyrrolopyrrole-based photothermal reagent (DCN) with unique J-aggregation-induced redshift is synthesized to achieve efficient tumor thermal ablation under safe power (0.33 W cm-2 ). Meanwhile, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) is co-loaded with near-infrared-absorbing DCN in amphiphilic polymers to realize heat-induced massive release of nitric oxide (NO), which can form oxidant peroxynitrite (ONOO- ) to active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), thereby degrading the compact tumor extracellular matrix to improve the ablation depth and infiltration of immune cells. Through a facile supramolecular assembly method, the DCN/SNAP nanoparticles are anchored to liquid-nitrogen-frozen cancer cells, achieving enhanced antitumor immune responses and effective inhibition of distant tumors and pulmonary metastases after only one treatment. The safety and effectiveness of this supramolecular cell-conjugation platform are verified by 2D/3D cellular experiments and bilateral tumor model, confirming the thermal-ablation-gas-permeation-antigen-presentation therapeutic mode has promising anticancer prospects.

Neoantigen-targeted TCR-engineered T cell immunotherapy: current advances and challenges

Adoptive cell therapy using T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T) is a promising approach for cancer therapy with an expectation of no significant side effects. In the human body, mature T cells are armed with an incredible diversity of T cell receptors (TCRs) that theoretically react to the variety of random mutations generated by tumor cells. The outcomes, however, of current clinical trials using TCR-T cell therapies are not very successful especially involving solid tumors. The therapy still faces numerous challenges in the efficient screening of tumor-specific antigens and their cognate TCRs. In this review, we first introduce TCR structure-based antigen recognition and signaling, then describe recent advances in neoantigens and their specific TCR screening technologies, and finally summarize ongoing clinical trials of TCR-T therapies against neoantigens. More importantly, we also present the current challenges of TCR-T cell-based immunotherapies, e.g., the safety of viral vectors, the mismatch of T cell receptor, the impediment of suppressive tumor microenvironment. Finally, we highlight new insights and directions for personalized TCR-T therapy.

A hidden translatome in tumors-the coding lncRNAs

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively identified in eukaryotic genomes and have been shown to play critical roles in the development of multiple cancers. Through the application and development of ribosome analysis and sequencing technologies, advanced studies have discovered the translation of lncRNAs. Although lncRNAs were originally defined as noncoding RNAs, many lncRNAs actually contain small open reading frames that are translated into peptides. This opens a broad area for the functional investigation of lncRNAs. Here, we introduce prospective methods and databases for screening lncRNAs with functional polypeptides. We also summarize the specific lncRNA-encoded proteins and their molecular mechanisms that promote or inhibit cancerous. Importantly, the role of lncRNA-encoded peptides/proteins holds promise in cancer research, but some potential challenges remain unresolved. This review includes reports on lncRNA-encoded peptides or proteins in cancer, aiming to provide theoretical basis and related references to facilitate the discovery of more functional peptides encoded by lncRNA, and to further develop new anti-cancer therapeutic targets as well as clinical biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis.