Cu(II)-Organic Coordination Polymer Networks for Persistent Nitric Oxide Release in Tumor Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for immune regulation, particularly in polarizing macrophages to the M1 phenotype, which is beneficial for cancer immunotherapy.
• Developing materials for sustained NO delivery is essential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a robust copper-organic coordination polymer network for sustained nitric oxide (NO) release.
• To investigate the potential of this material as an anticancer patch for macrophage polarization.

Main Methods:

• A dual-interaction process involving complexation and cross-linking was used to construct the polymer network from 4-((6-(acryloyloxy)hexyl)oxy)benzoic acid (BA) and Cu(II) ions.
• The polymer film's ability to release NO from S-nitrosoglutathione was assessed over 90 days in a physiological environment.
• The effect of released NO on macrophage polarization (M0 and M2 to M1) was evaluated.

Main Results:

• The developed BA-Cu polymer network demonstrated robust structure and sustained NO release for over 90 days.
• The released NO effectively polarized both resting (M0) and tumor-associated (M2) macrophages towards the proinflammatory M1 phenotype.
• The material exhibited significant physiological stability.

Conclusions:

• The BA-Cu polymer films offer a stable platform for sustained NO delivery.
• These films show potential as anticancer patches by continuously promoting antitumoral macrophages through NO-mediated M1 polarization.