Journal of Nanobiotechnology (May 2021)

NIR responsive tumor vaccine in situ for photothermal ablation and chemotherapy to trigger robust antitumor immune responses

  • Lirong Zhang,
  • Jingjing Zhang,
  • Lixia Xu,
  • Zijian Zhuang,
  • Jingjin Liu,
  • Suwan Liu,
  • Yunchao Wu,
  • Aihua Gong,
  • Miaomiao Zhang,
  • Fengyi Du

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-021-00880-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Background Therapeutic tumor vaccine (TTV) that induces tumor-specific immunity has enormous potentials in tumor treatment, but high heterogeneity and poor immunogenicity of tumor seriously impair its clinical efficacy. Herein, a novel NIR responsive tumor vaccine in situ (HA-PDA@IQ/DOX HG) was prepared by integrating hyaluronic acid functionalized polydopamine nanoparticles (HA-PDA NPs) with immune adjuvants (Imiquimod, IQ) and doxorubicin (DOX) into thermal-sensitive hydrogel. Results HA-PDA@IQ NPs with high photothermal conversion efficiency (41.2%) and T 1-relaxation efficiency were using HA as stabilizer by the one-pot oxidative polymerization. Then, HA-PDA@IQ loaded DOX via π-π stacking and mixed with thermal-sensitive hydrogel to form the HA-PDA@IQ/DOX HG. The hydrogel-confined delivery mode endowed HA-PDA@IQ/DOX NPs with multiple photothermal ablation performance once injection upon NIR irradiation due to the prolonged retention in tumor site. More importantly, this mode enabled HA-PDA@IQ/DOX NPs to promote the DC maturation, memory T cells in lymphatic node as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes in spleen. Conclusion Taken together, the HA-PDA@IQ/DOX HG could be served as a theranostic tumor vaccine for complete photothermal ablation to trigger robust antitumor immune responses.

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