A Versatile Nanoplatform for Broad-Spectrum Immunotherapy by Reversing the Tumor Microenvironment

Immunotherapy is currently an important adjuvant therapy for malignant tumors besides surgical treatment. However, the heterogeneity and low immunogenicity of the tumor are two main challenges of the immunotherapy. Here, we have constructed a nanoplatform (CP@mRBC-PpIX) to realize reversion of the tumor acidosis and hypoxia through alkali and oxygen generation triggered by tumor acidosis. By targeting tumor universal features other than endogenous biomarkers, it was found that CP@mRBC-PpIX could polarize tumor-associated macrophages to anti-tumor M1 phenotype macrophages to enhance tumor immune response. Furthermore, under regional light irradiation, the reactive oxygen species produced by photosensitizers located in CP@mRBC-PpIX could increase the immunogenicity of tumors, so that tumor changes from an immunosuppressive cold tumor to an immunogenic hot tumor, thereby increasing the infiltration and response of T cells, further amplifying the effect of immunotherapy. This strategy circumvented the problem of tumor heterogeneity to realize a kind of broad-spectrum immunotherapy, which could effectively prevent tumor metastasis and recurrence.

Automated summary

A nanoplatform was constructed to reverse tumor acidosis and hypoxia through alkali and oxygen generation triggered by tumor acidosis, polarizing tumor-associated macrophages to anti-tumor M1 phenotype macrophages and enhancing tumor immune response. Furthermore, under regional light irradiation, reactive oxygen species produced by photosensitizers in the nanoplatform could increase the immunogenicity of tumors, transitioning tumors from immunosuppressive cold tumors to immunogenic hot tumors and amplifying the effect of immunotherapy.