Nanotechnology-Enabled Chemodynamic & Immunotherapy

Endogenous and exogeneous stimuli-triggered reactive oxygen species evoke long-lived carbon monoxide to fight against lung cancer

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated anticancer approaches usually suffer from two limitations, i.e., insufficient ROS level and short ROS half-life. Nevertheless, no report has synchronously addressed both concerns yet. Herein, a multichannel actions-enabled nanotherapeutic platform using hollow manganese dioxide (H-MnO2) carriers to load chlorin e6 (Ce6) sonosensitizer and CO donor (e.g., Mn2(CO)10) has been constructed to maximumly elevate ROS level and trigger cascade catalysis to produce CO. Therein, intratumoral H2O2 and ultrasound as endogenous and exogeneous triggers stimulate H-MnO2 and Ce6 to produce •OH and 1O2, respectively. The further cascade reaction between ROS and Mn2(CO)10 proceeds to release CO, converting short-lived ROS into long-lived CO. Contributed by them, such a maximumly-elevated ROS accumulation and long-lived CO release successfully suppresses the progression, recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer with a prolonged survival rate. More significantly, proteomic and genomic investigations uncover that the CO-induced activation of AKT signaling pathway, NRF-2 phosphorylation and HMOX-1 overexpression induce mitochondrial dysfunction to boost anti-tumor consequences. Thus, this cascade catalysis strategy can behave as a general means to enrich ROS and trigger CO release against refractory cancers.

A Distinctive Insight into Inorganic Sonosensitizers: Design Principles and Application Domains

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as a promising non-invasive anti-tumor means features the preferable penetration depth, which nevertheless, usually can't work without sonosensitizers. Sonosensitizers produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of ultrasound to directly kill tumor cells, and concurrently activate anti-tumor immunity especially after integration with tumor microenvironment (TME)-engineered nanobiotechnologies and combined therapy. Current sonosensitizers are classified into organic and inorganic ones, and current most reviews only cover organic sonosensitizers and highlighted their anti-tumor applications. However, there have few specific reviews that focus on inorganic sonosensitizers including their design principles, microenvironment regulation, etc. In this review, inorganic sonosensitizers are first classified according to their design rationales rather than composition, and the action rationales and underlying chemistry features are highlighted. Afterward, what and how TME is regulated based on the inorganic sonosensitizers-based SDT nanoplatform with an emphasis on the TME targets-engineered nanobiotechnologies are elucidated. Additionally, the combined therapy and their applications in non-cancer diseases are also outlined. Finally, the setbacks and challenges, and proposed the potential solutions and future directions is pointed out. This review provides a comprehensive and detailed horizon on inorganic sonosensitizers, and will arouse more attentions on SDT.

A Single-Atom Manganese Nanozyme Mn-N/C Promotes Anti-Tumor Immune Response via Eliciting Type I Interferon Signaling

Tumor microenvironment (TME)-induced nanocatalytic therapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but the low catalytic efficiency limits its therapeutic efficacy. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are a new type of nanozyme with incredible catalytic efficiency. Here, a single-atom manganese (Mn)-N/C nanozyme is constructed. Mn-N/C catalyzes the conversion of cellular H2O2 to ∙OH through a Fenton-like reaction and enables the sufficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells and significantly promotes CD8+T anti-tumor immunity. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis reveals that Mn-N/C treatment activates type I interferon (IFN) signaling, which is critical for Mn-N/C-mediated anti-tumor immune response. Mechanistically, the release of cytosolic DNA and Mn2+ triggered by Mn-N/C collectively activates the cGAS-STING pathway, subsequently stimulating type I IFN induction. A highly efficient single-atom nanozyme, Mn-N/C, which enhances anti-tumor immune response and exhibits synergistic therapeutic effects when combined with the anti-PD-L1 blockade, is proposed.

Nanomaterials for Disease Treatment by Modulating the Pyroptosis Pathway

Pyroptosis differs significantly from apoptosis and cell necrosis as an alternative mode of programmed cell death. Its occurrence is mediated by the gasdermin protein, leading to characteristic outcomes including cell swelling, membrane perforation, and release of cell contents. Research underscores the role of pyroptosis in the etiology and progression of many diseases, making it a focus of research intervention as scientists explore ways to regulate pyroptosis pathways in disease management. Despite numerous reviews detailing the relationship between pyroptosis and disease mechanisms, few delve into recent advancements in nanomaterials as a mechanism for modulating the pyroptosis pathway to mitigate disease effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fill this gap and elucidate the path for the use of this promising technology in the field of disease treatment. This review article delves into recent developments in nanomaterials for disease management through pyroptosis modulation, details the mechanisms by which drugs interact with pyroptosis pathways, and highlights the promise that nanomaterial research holds in driving forward disease treatment.

Key Modulation of ROS and HSP for Effective Therapy Against Hypoxic Tumor with Multifunctional Nanosystem

Background

Though nanomedicine-based photothermal therapy (PTT) has demonstrated promising prospect in tumor treatment due to its high therapeutic efficiency and controllable range, the overexpression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) during PTT can lead to intracellular thermal resistance and reduce its effectiveness. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by the application of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), can eliminate HSPs and overcome thermal resistance. However, the tumor microenvironment, including hypoxia and glutathione (GSH) overexpression, impedes the production of ROS and therapeutic efficacy of CDT and PDT. Therefore, we proposed a multifunctional nanoplatform (HMPB@TCPP-Cu) driving PTT/ PDT/ CDT synergistic therapy for tumor treatment via modulating ROS and HSPs.

Methods and Results

In this work, a novel nanoplatform (HMPB@TCPP-Cu) composed of O2/PTT supplier HMPB (hollow mesoporous Prussian blue) and the loaded PDT/CDT agent (TCPP-Cu2+) was prepared. HMPB acts as an photothermal converter, effectively raising the tumor temperature and inducing apoptosis. HMPB is also a potent catalase-like nanozyme, which can catalyze hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and reduce tumor hypoxia, thus elevating the efficiency of ROS production and the effectiveness of PDT with the wing of sonosensitizer-TCPP. The intracellular glutathione(GSH) was depleted by Cu2+ and •OH was generated along with the Cu2+/Cu+ converting and Cu+-mediated Fenton-like reaction. Subsequently, the increased levels of ROS effectively eliminate intratumoral thermal resistance. The HMPB@TCPP-Cu has achieved synergistic PTT/PDT/CDT for hepatoblastoma treatment and significant inhibition of tumor growth was detected both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

This study presents a multifunctional nanoplatform that combines photothermal/ chemodynamic/ photodynamic therapy for efficient hepatoblastoma treatment via modulating ROS and HSPs. Collectively, this study provides an appealing strategy in the cleavage of thermal resistance and a novel assistance and enhancement on thermal-related therapies.

Photothermal nanozymes to self-augment combination cancer therapy by dual-glutathione depletion and hyperthermia/acidity-activated hydroxyl radical generation

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has emerged as a promising strategy for tumor treatment. Nevertheless, the low Fenton catalytic efficiency and the high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells largely decline antitumor efficacy of CDT. To self-augment antitumor effect of the CDT by combining with photothermal therapy (PTT), the unique photothermal nanozymes that doubly depleted GSH, and generated massive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in the hyperthermia/acidity-activated manner were developed. Through the coordination of Fe3+ ions with PEGylated chitosan (PEG-CS)-modified polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, the attained Fe3+@PEG-CS/PDA nanozymes showed outstanding colloidal stability, photothermal conversion efficiency and acidity-triggered Fe3+ release. By GSH-mediated valence states transition of Fe3+ ions and Michael reaction between GSH and quinone-rich PDA, the nanozymes sufficiently executed dual depletion of GSH with the elevated temperature.Under mimic tumor acidity and near-infrared (NIR) irradiation condition, the endocytosed nanozymes effectively converted intracellular H2O2 into toxic ·OH upon amplified Fenton reaction, thereby potently killing 4T1 cancer cells and RAW 264.7 cells. Importantly, the nanozymes prominently suppressed 4T1 tumor growth in vivo and metastasis of cancer cells by CDT/PTT combination therapy without significant systemic toxicity. Our study provides novel visions in design of therapeutic nanozymes with great clinical translational prospect for tumor treatment.

Macrophage-inherited exosome excise tumor immunosuppression to expedite immune-activated ferroptosis

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) remains an obstacle that jeopardizes clinical immunotherapy.

METHODS

To address this concern, we have engineered an exosome inherited from M1-pheototype macrophages, which thereby retain functions and ingredients of the parent M1-phenotype macrophages. The delivered RSL3 that serves as a common ferroptosis inducer can reduce the levels of ferroptosis hallmarkers (eg, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4), break the redox homeostasis to magnify oxidative stress accumulation, promote the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, and induce robust ferroptosis of tumor cells, accompanied with which systematic immune response activation can bbe realized. M1 macrophage-derived exosomes can inherit more functions and genetic substances than nanovesicles since nanovesicles inevitably suffer from substance and function loss caused by extrusion-arised structural damage.

RESULTS

Inspired by it, spontaneous homing to tumor and M2-like macrophage polarization into M1-like ones are attained, which not only significantly magnify oxidative stress but also mitigate ITM including M2-like macrophage polarization and regulatory T cell decrease, and regulate death pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

All these actions accomplish a synergistic antitumor enhancement against tumor progression, thus paving a general route to mitigate ITM, activate immune responses, and magnify ferroptosis.

Emerging Advancements in Piezoelectric Nanomaterials for Dynamic Tumor Therapy

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, having spurred researchers to explore effective therapeutic strategies for several centuries. Although efficacious, conventional chemotherapy usually introduces various side effects, such as cytotoxicity or multi−drug resistance. In recent decades, nanomaterials, possessing unique physical and chemical properties, have been used for the treatment of a wide range of cancers. Dynamic therapies, which can kill target cells using reactive oxygen species (ROS), are promising for tumor treatment, as they overcome the drawbacks of chemotherapy methods. Piezoelectric nanomaterials, featuring a unique property to convert ultrasound vibration energy into electrical energy, have also attracted increasing attention in biomedical research, as the piezoelectric effect can drive chemical reactions to generate ROS, leading to the newly emerging technique of ultrasound−driven tumor therapy. Piezoelectric materials are expected to bring a better solution for efficient and safe cancer treatment, as well as patient pain relief. In this review article, we highlight the most recent achievements of piezoelectric biomaterials for tumor therapy, including the mechanism of piezoelectric catalysis, conventional piezoelectric materials, modified piezoelectric materials and multifunctional piezoelectric materials for tumor treatment.

Extracellular Matrix Viscosity Reprogramming by In Situ Au Bioreactor-Boosted Microwavegenetics Disables Tumor Escape in CAR-T Immunotherapy

Incomplete microwave ablation (iMWA) caused by uncontrollable heat diffusion enhances the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM), consequently disabling the prevalent immune checkpoint blockade-combined immunotherapy against tumor recurrence. Herein, we successfully constructed an intratumorally synthesized Au bioreactor to disperse heat in thermally sensitive hydrogel-filled tumors and improve the energy utilization efficiency, which magnified the effective ablation zone (EAZ), counteracted iMWA, and simultaneously established and enhanced multiple biological process-regulated microwavegenetics. More significantly, we identified the extracellular matrix (ECM) viscosity as a general immune escape "target". After remodeling ECM, including ECM ingredients and cell adhesion molecules, this physical target was blocked by viscosity reprogramming, furnishing an effective tool to regulate the viscosity target. Thereby, such in situ Au bioreactor-enlarged EAZ and enhanced microwavegenetics reversed the immune-desert tumor microenvironment, mitigated ITM, secreted immune cell-attracting chemokines, recruited and polarized various immune cells, and activated or reactivated them like dendritic cells, natural killing cells, M1-type macrophages, and effector CD8+ or CAR-T cells. Contributed by these multiple actions, the in situ oncolytic Au bioreactors evoked CAR-T immunotherapy to acquire a considerably increased inhibition effect against tumor progression and recurrence after iMWA, thus providing a general method to enhance iMWA and CAR-T immunotherapy.

Emerging Nano-/Biotechnology Drives Oncolytic Virus-Activated and Combined Cancer Immunotherapy

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) as one promising antitumor methods have made important contributions to tumor immunotherapy, which arouse increasing attention. They provide the dual mechanisms including direct killing effect toward tumor cells and immune activation for elevating antitumor responses, which have been proved in many preclinical studies. Especially, natural or genetically modified viruses as clinical immune preparations have emerged as a new promising approach objective to oncology treatment. The approval of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the therapy of advanced melanoma could be considered as a milestone achievement in the clinical translation of OV. In this review, we first discussed the antitumor mechanisms of OVs with an emphasis on targeting, replication, and propagation. We further outlined the state of the art of current OVs in tumor and underlined the activated biological effects especially including immunity. More significantly, the enhanced immune responses based on OVs were systematically discussed from different perspectives such as combination with immunotherapy, genetic engineering of OVs, integration with nanobiotechnology or nanoparticles, and antiviral response counteraction, where their principles were shed light on. The development of OVs in the clinics was also highlighted to analyze the actuality and concerns of different OV applications in clinical trials. At last, the future perspectives and challenges of OVs as an already widely accepted treatment means were discussed. This review will provide a systematic review and deep insight into OV development and also offer new opportunities and guidance pathways to drive the further clinical translation.

Improved cancer immunotherapy strategies by nanomedicine

Cancer immunotherapy agents fight cancer via immune system stimulation and have made significant advances in minimizing side effects and prolonging the survival of patients with solid tumors. However, major limitations still exist in cancer immunotherapy, including the inefficiency of immune response stimulation in specific cancer types, therapy resistance caused by the tumor microenvironment (TME), toxicities by the immune imbalance, and short lifetime of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist. Recent advances in nanomedicine have shown significant potential in overcoming the obstacles of cancer immunotherapy. Several nanoscale agents have been reported for cancer immunotherapy, including nanoscale cancer vaccines impacting the STING pathway, nanomaterials reprogramming TME, nano-agents triggering immune response with immune checkpoint inhibitor synergy, ferroptosis-mediated and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase immunosuppression-mediated cancer immunotherapy, and nanomedicine-meditated chimeric antigen receptor-T-cell therapy. Herein, we summarize the major advances and innovations in nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapy, and outline the opportunities and challenges to integrate more advanced nanomaterials into cancer immunotherapy. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.

Intraparticle Double-Scattering-Decoded Sonogenetics for Augmenting Immune Checkpoint Blockade and CAR-T Therapy

Genetically arming new chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on T cells is a prevalent method to fulfill CAR-T immunotherapy. However, this approach fails to completely address the poor infiltration, complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM), and insufficient immune cells, which are recognized as the three dominant hurdles to discouraging the trafficking and persistence of CAR-T and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapies against solid tumors. To address the three hurdles, a sonoimmunity-engineered nanoplatform is designed in which a rattle-type-structured carrier enables intraparticle-double-scattering to generate massive reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the sonodynamic process. Abundant ROS accumulation can directly kill tumor cells, release antigens, and activate systematic immune responses for expanding effector T or CAR-T cells, while alleviating ITM via immunosuppressive macrophage polarization and reduction in pro-tumorigenic cytokine secretion. Furthermore, the co-loaded phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors release nitric oxide (NO) to impel vascular normalization and open the infiltration barrier (IB) for allowing more T cells to enter into the tumor. Systematic experiments demonstrate the feasibility of such intraparticle-double-scattering-decoded sonogenetics in the sonoimmunity-engineered nanoplatforms for expanding effector T or CAR-T cells, thereby promoting their infiltration into tumors and alleviating ITM. These compelling actions lead to excellent CAR-T and ICB immunotherapies against solid tumors with repressed tumor metastasis.

Rational Nanomedicine Design Enhances Clinically Physical Treatment-Inspired or Combined Immunotherapy

Independent of tumor type and non-invasive or minimally-invasive feature, current physical treatments including ultrasound therapy, microwave ablation (MWA), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are widely used as the local treatment methods in clinics for directly killing tumors and activating systematic immune responses. However, the activated immune responses are inadequate and incompetent for tumor recession, and the incomplete thermal ablation even aggravates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM), resulting in the intractable tumor recurrence and metastasis. Intriguingly, nanomedicine provides a powerful platform as they can elevate energy utilization efficiency and augment oncolytic effects for mitigating ITM and potentiating the systematic immune responses. Especially after combining with clinical immunotherapy, the anti-tumor killing effect by activating or enhancing the human anti-tumor immune system is reached, enabling the effective prevention against tumor recurrence and metastasis. This review systematically introduces the cutting-edge progress and direction of nanobiotechnologies and their corresponding nanomaterials. Moreover, the enhanced physical treatment efficiency against tumor progression, relapse, and metastasis via activating or potentiating the autologous immunity or combining with exogenous immunotherapeutic agents is exemplified, and their rationales are analyzed. This review offers general guidance or directions to enhance clinical physical treatment from the perspectives of immunity activation or magnification.

Alpha radionuclide-chelated radioimmunotherapy promoters enable local radiotherapy/chemodynamic therapy to discourage cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Astatine-211 is an α-emitter with high-energy α-ray and high cytotoxicity for cancer cells. However, the targeted alpha therapy (TAT) also suffers from insufficient systematic immune activation, resulting in tumor metastasis and relapse. Combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with chemodynamic therapy (CDT) could boost antitumor immunity, which may magnify the immune responses of TAT. This study aims to discourage tumor metastasis and relapse by tri-model TAT-CDT-ICB strategy.

METHODS

We successfully designed Mn-based radioimmunotherapy promoters (²¹¹At-ATE-MnO₂-BSA), which are consisting of ²¹¹At, MnO₂ and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The efficacy of ²¹¹At-ATE-MnO₂-BSA was studied as monotherapy or in combination with anti-PD-L1 in both metastatic and relapse models. The immune effects of radioimmunotherapy promoters on cytotoxic T lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence were used to explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

Such radioimmunotherapy promoters could not only enhance the therapeutic outcomes of TAT and CDT, but also induce robust anti-cancer immune activity by activating dendritic cells. More intriguingly, ²¹¹At-ATE-MnO₂-BSA could effectively suppress the growths of primary tumors and distant tumors when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

The tri-model TAT-CDT-ICB strategy provides a long-term immunological memory, which can protect against tumor rechallenge after eliminating original tumors. Therefore, this work presents a novel approach for TAT-CDT-ICB tri-modal cancer therapy with repressed metastasis and relapse in clinics.

Noninvasive remote-controlled nanomedicine by using electric field stimulation for in vivo effective cancer therapy

Precision therapy has developed as an important strategy for cancer treatment. We have developed an external electric field (EF) controlled targeting drug delivery nanosystem (TDDS) for precision cancer therapy. The electric field responsive targeting drug delivery nanosystem (EFTDDS) is synthesized by functionalizing mesoporous silica with polynitrophenyl-methacrylamide-folate (PNMAFA). The functional molecules grafted in the mesopores effectively encapsulate the drugs in the EFTDDS and control the drug release by nitrylphenyl dipolar responding to electric field. The EFTDDS has achieved high electric field control as demonstrated by the promoted EF-responsive release and the low nonspecific leakage of the doxorubicin. Furthermore, when breast cancer xenograft models on nude mice were treated with EF-stimulated nanomedicine, the tumor-inhibition rate increases to 75%, which is 2.7 times as high as that without electric field stimulation. The EFTDDS is demonstrated biodegradable, biocompatible, and EF remotely controllable, represents excellent inhibiting effect on tumor in vivo, and might become a promising nanomedicine platform for electrodynamic therapy (EDT) in the potential clinical applications.