Precise Depletion of Tumor Seed and Growing Soil with Shrinkable Nanocarrier for Potentiated Cancer Chemoimmunotherapy

Simultaneously targeting tumor cells and nonmalignant cells represent a more efficient strategy for replacing the traditional method of targeting only tumor cells, and co-delivery nanocarriers have inherent advantages to achieve this goal. However, differential delivery of multiple agents to various types of cell with different spatial distribution patterns remains a large challenge. Herein, we developed a nanocarrier of platinum(IV) prodrug and BLZ-945, BLZ@S-NP/Pt, to differentially target tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The BLZ@S-NP/Pt undergoes shrinkage to small platinum(IV) prodrug-conjugating nanoparticles under 660 nm light, resulting in deep tumor penetration to kill more cancer cells. Meanwhile, such shrinkage also enables the rapid release of BLZ-945 in the perivascular regions of tumor to preferentially deplete TAMs (enriched in perivascular regions). Therefore, BLZ@S-NP/Pt differentially and precisely delivers agents to TAMs and tumor cells located in different spatial distribution, respectively, eventually having synergistic anticancer effects in multiple tumor models.

Automated summary

The study developed a novel nanocarrier that can differentially target tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages, showing promising therapeutic effects. This nanocarrier can shrink under light exposure, releasing drugs to achieve deeper tumor penetration and better anti-tumor effects.