Photothermal-Chemotherapy Enhancing Tumor Immunotherapy by Multifunctional Metal-Organic Framework Based Drug Delivery System

Immunotherapy holds great promise for patients undergoing tumor treatment. However, the clinical effect of immunotherapy is limited because of tumor immunogenicity and its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Herein, the metal-organic framework (MIL-100) loaded with chemotherapeutic agent mitoxantrone (MTO) was combined with photothermal-chemotherapy for enhancing immunogenic cell death. MIL-100 loaded with MTO and hyaluronic acid as nanoparticles (MMH NPs) yielded an NP with two therapeutic properties (photothermal and chemotherapy) with dual imaging modes (photoacoustic and thermal). When MMH NPs were coinjected with an anti-OX40 antibody in colorectal cancer, the highest antitumor efficacy and a robust immune effect were achieved. This work provides a novel combined therapeutic strategy, which will hold great promise in future tumor therapy.

Automated summary

Immunotherapy shows promise for tumor treatment, but its clinical effect is limited by tumor immunogenicity and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Researchers combined metal-organic framework MIL-100 loaded with mitoxantrone (MTO) with photothermal-chemotherapy to enhance immunogenic cell death. The resulting MMH NPs, with dual therapeutic properties and imaging modes, showed high antitumor efficacy and immune effect when co-injected with anti-OX40 antibody in colorectal cancer. This novel combined therapeutic strategy is promising for future tumor therapy.