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Published on: August 16, 2024
From Design to Clinic: Engineered Nanobiomaterials for Immune Normalization Therapy of Cancer
Madiha Saeed1, Fangming Chen1, Jiayi Ye1
1State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Abstract:
The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is comprised of a complex milieu that contributes to stunting antitumor immune responses by restricting T cells to accumulate in the vicinity of the tumor. Nanomedicine-based strategies are being proposed as a salvage effort to reinvigorate antitumor immunity. Various strategies, however, often fail to unleash the antitumor immune response because of the paucity of appropriate therapeutic targets in the complex TIME, invigorating a fervor of investigation into mechanisms underlying the TIME to resist nanomedicines. In this review article, effective nano/biomaterial-based delivery and TIME normalization approaches that promote T cell-mediated antitumor immune response will be discussed, with a focus on emerging preclinical and clinical strategies for immune normalization. Based on currently available evidence, it seems as if the ultimate success of cancer immunotherapy and nanomedicine hinges on the capacity to normalize the TIME. Here, how nanomedicines target immunosuppressive cells and signaling pathways to broaden the impact of cancer immunotherapy are explored. Acquisition of the urgently needed knowledge of nanomedicine-mediated immune normalization will guide researchers and scientists towards clinical applications of cancer immunotherapy.
Insights
Nanomedicines can reinvigorate antitumor immunity by normalizing the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Understanding how nanomedicines target TIME mechanisms is crucial for successful cancer immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nanomedicine
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) often restricts T cell accumulation, hindering antitumor immune responses.
- Nanomedicine strategies aim to reinvigorate antitumor immunity but face challenges due to complex TIME resistance mechanisms.
- Identifying effective therapeutic targets within the TIME is critical for successful nanomedicine-based cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review nano/biomaterial-based delivery and TIME normalization strategies that enhance T cell-mediated antitumor immunity.
- To focus on emerging preclinical and clinical strategies for immune normalization in cancer treatment.
- To explore how nanomedicines target immunosuppressive cells and pathways to improve cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on nanomedicine, TIME, and cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of nano/biomaterial delivery systems and TIME normalization approaches.
- Exploration of mechanisms by which nanomedicines modulate the TIME.
Main Results:
- Effective nanomedicine strategies can normalize the TIME, promoting T cell infiltration and activity.
- Targeting immunosuppressive cells and signaling pathways within the TIME is key to enhancing immunotherapy.
- Successful immune normalization is essential for the ultimate success of cancer immunotherapy combined with nanomedicine.
Conclusions:
- Normalizing the tumor immune microenvironment is pivotal for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
- Nanomedicine-mediated immune normalization offers a promising avenue for broadening the impact of cancer treatments.
- Further research into nanomedicine-guided immune normalization will accelerate clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy.

