Targeting of Low-Immunogenic Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanoparticles for Photothermal-Enhanced Immunotherapy

The assembly of low-immunogenic poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PEG NPs) for targeted delivery of therapeutics (i.e., mitoxantrone and imidazoquinoline) and improved photothermal-immunotherapy is reported. The targeted PEG NPs incorporating targeting molecules of hyaluronic acid are engineered via the templating of metal-organic frameworks, which can circumvent accelerated blood clearance and exhibit prolonged circulation time as well as improved accumulation of therapeutics at tumor sites. The targeted delivery of mitoxantrone under laser radiation induces immunogenic cell death of tumor cells, which is combined with toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists of imidazoquinoline to trigger immune responses of cytotoxic T lymphocytes for the eradication of tumor cells. Furthermore, the treatment can induce tumor-specific immune responses that inhibit metastatic lung tumor growth. This reported targeted PEG NPs provide a rational design for cancer immunotherapy.