Genetically Engineering Cell Membrane-Coated BTO Nanoparticles for MMP2-Activated Piezocatalysis-Immunotherapy

Tumor immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) still suffers from low host response rate and non-specific distribution of immune checkpoint inhibitors, greatly compromising the therapeutic efficiency. Herein, cellular membrane stably expressing matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2)-activated PD-L1 blockades is engineered to coat ultrasmall barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticle for overcoming the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors. The resulting M@BTO NPs can significantly promote the BTO's tumor accumulation, while the masking domains on membrane PD-L1 antibodies are cleaved when exposure to MMP2 highly expressed in tumor. With ultrasound (US) irradiation, M@BTO NPs can simultaneously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and O₂ based on BTO mediated piezocatalysis and water splitting, significantly promoting the intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and improving the PD-L1 blockade therapy to the tumor, resulting in effective tumor growth inhibition and lung metastasis suppression in a melanoma mouse model. This nanoplatform combines MMP2-activated genetic editing cell membrane with US responsive BTO for both immune stimulation and specific PD-L1 inhibition, providing a safe and robust strategy in enhancing immune response against tumor.