Plasma-synthesized mussel-inspired gold nanoparticles promote autophagy-dependent damage-associated molecular pattern release to potentiate immunogenic cancer cell death

The development of an efficient tumor-specific therapeutic approach, which functions against the primary tumor and also repairs the host immune system to eradicate distant tumors, remains a clinical issue. Herein, this study focuses on the use of polydopamine-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PDA NPs) that showed excellent selectivity towards cancer cells. The Au@PDA NPs were prepared by a plasma synthesis method with a short reaction time and minimize the use of chemicals. Prominently, Au@PDA NPs not only exhibited high cellular internalization but also stimulated immunogenic cell death (ICD) in aggressive breast carcinoma cells. Moreover, it was observed that damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) were released by damaged cells together with the autophagy process after Au@PDA NPs exposure, which acted as endogenous danger signals to regulate the consequent immune response. This study highlights the novel mechanism of Au@PDA NPs-triggered anti-tumor immunity against immunosuppressive cancers, demonstrated the potential of the Au@PDA NPs for cancer immunotherapy. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.

Automated summary

This study focused on the use of polydopamine-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PDA NPs) with excellent selectivity towards cancer cells, stimulating immunogenic cell death. The damaged cells released damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) after exposure to Au@PDA NPs, regulating the subsequent immune response. Au@PDA NPs show potential for cancer immunotherapy by triggering anti-tumor immunity.