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Nanotherapeutics for immune network modulation in tumor microenvironments.

Jaiwoo Lee¹, Dongyoon Kim¹, Quoc-Viet Le¹

¹College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.

Seminars in Cancer Biology

|November 30, 2021

Summary

Nanoparticles offer a promising approach to enhance cancer immunotherapy by improving drug delivery and reducing toxicity. This review explores recent strategies using nanomaterials to modulate the tumor immune environment for better cancer treatment outcomes.

Keywords:

Cancer immunotherapy Cytokine Immune checkpoint inhibitor Immune modulator Immunogenic cell death Metabolic Nanoparticle

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Immunology
Nanotechnology
Materials Science

Background:

Cancer immunotherapy leverages host immune surveillance, contrasting with traditional chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
Tumor microenvironments often suppress immune cells via immune checkpoints, cytokines, and metabolic factors.
Current immune modulators face limitations in dose tolerance and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent strategies for modulating the tumor immune environment using nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy.
To discuss challenges and future perspectives in nanoparticle-based cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

Encapsulation of immune modulators within nanoparticles to improve drug delivery and reduce toxicity.
Surface-ligand modification of nanoparticles for targeted delivery to specific immune cell types.
Strategies involving depletion or reprogramming of immunosuppressive cells.
Utilizing nanomaterials with external stimuli to induce immunogenic cell death and promote anti-tumor immunity.

Main Results:

Nanoparticle-based systems have shown potential in decreasing immune-related toxicity.
Targeted delivery via surface-modified nanoparticles enhances antitumor responses.
Reprogramming immunosuppressive cells and inducing immunogenic cell death can restore anti-tumor immunity.
Nanomaterials combined with stimuli can create an inflammatory tumor environment favorable for immunity.

Conclusions:

Nanoparticles represent a significant advancement in overcoming the limitations of current cancer immunotherapies.
Targeted delivery, immune cell modulation, and stimuli-responsive systems are key strategies for improving nanoparticle-based cancer immunotherapy.
Further research is needed to address challenges and fully realize the potential of nanoparticles in cancer treatment.