Enhanced cancer immunotherapy through synergistic ferroptosis and immune checkpoint blockade using cell membrane-coated nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has achieved unprecedented success in inhibiting the progression and metastasis of many cancers. However, ICB regents as a single treatment have a relatively low overall response rate due to the tumor’s low immunogenicity and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Herein, we report a PD-1 cellular membrane-coated ferroptosis nanoinducer to potentiate cancer immunotherapy toward triple-negative breast cancer. Results This study demonstrates that PD-1 membrane-coated RSL3 nanoparticles (PD-1@RSL3 NPs) have the ability to disrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, leading to the activation of antitumor immunity in breast cancer. In addition, the nanoparticles promote the induction of tumor cell ferroptosis through GPX4 inhibition, enhanced infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and maturation of dendritic cells. The potentiated antitumor immune response induced by PD-1@RSL3 NPs significantly delayed tumor progression and extended the survival rate of mice with breast cancer xenografts. Conclusions Our study suggest the potential of PD-1@RSL3 NPs as an effective therapeutic approach for breast cancer by promoting tumor cell ferroptosis and inducing antitumor immunity.

Keywords

• Ferroptosis
• Drug delivery
• PD-1
• Cell membrane
• Cancer immunotherapy