Photo-Thermally Controllable Tumor Metabolic Modulation to Assist T Cell Activation for Boosting Immunotherapy

Glycolysis is crucial for tumor cell proliferation, supporting their energy needs and influencing the tumor microenvironment (TME). On one hand, increased lactate levels produced by glycolysis acidifies the TME, inhibiting T cell activity. On the other hand, glycolysis promotes the expression of PD-L1 through various mechanisms, facilitating immune evasion. Therefore, controlled modulation of glycolysis in tumor cells to subsequently improve the immune tumor microenvironment holds significant implications for clinical cancer treatment and immune regulation.

To reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment caused by tumor glycolysis and reduce tumor immune escape, we developed a photo-thermal-controlled precision drug delivery platform to regulate tumor metabolism and aid in the activation of T cells, thereby enhancing immunotherapy. First, hollow mesoporous Prussian blue (HPB) was prepared, and the glycolysis inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) was encapsulated within HPB using the phase-change material 1-tetradecanol, resulting in B/T-H. This product was then modified with tumor cell membranes to obtain a photo-thermal controllable regulator (B/T-H@Membrane, B/T-HM).

Due to the excellent drug loading and photo-thermal properties of HPB, upon reaching the tumor, B/T-HM can rapidly heat under 808 nm irradiation, causing the 1-tetradecanol to transition to a liquid phase and release 3-BrPA, which effectively inhibits tumor glycolysis through the HK2 pathway, thereby reducing tumor cell proliferation, decreasing lactate production, and downregulating tumor PD-L1 expression. In synergy with photo-thermal and αPD-1, this photo-thermally controllable metabolic-immune therapy effectively activates T cells to eliminate tumor.

In response to the changes in immune microenvironment caused by tumor metabolism, a photo-thermal precision-controlled drug delivery platform was successfully developed. This platform reshapes the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment, providing a new approach for T cell-based tumor immunotherapy. It also opens new avenues for photo-thermal controllable metabolic-immune therapy.