Engineered Microbial Nanohybrids for Tumor-Mediated NIR II Photothermal Enhanced Ferroptosis/Cuproptosis and...

The colon tumor microenvironment has a high concentration of H₂ S and glutathione, which is highly immunosuppressive and adverse to multiple therapeutic methodologies such as ferroptosis. Here, an engineered microbial nanohybrid based on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Cu₂ O nanoparticles to specific colon tumor therapy and immunosuppression reversion is reported. The as-prepared E. coli@Cu₂ O hybrid can accumulate in tumor sites upon intravenous injection, and Cu₂ O nanoparticles convert to Cu_x S by consuming the endogenous H₂ S, which exhibits strong photothermal conversion at near-infrared II (NIR II) biological window. Furthermore, E. coli@Cu₂ O is able to induce cellular ferroptosis and cuproptosis through inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 and aggregation of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase, respectively. Photothermal-enhanced ferroptosis/cuproptosis achieved by E. coli@Cu₂ O reverses the immunosuppression of colon tumors by triggering dendritic cell maturation (about 30%) and T cell activation (about 50% CD8⁺ T cells). Concerted with immune checkpoint blockade, the engineered microbial nanohybrid can inhibit the growth of abscopal tumors upon NIR illumination. Overall, the designed microbial nanohybrid can achieve tumor-specific photothermal-enhanced ferroptosis/cuproptosis and immunosuppression reversion, showing promise in precise tumor therapy in future clinical translation.