Piezo-catalytic immunotherapy: mechanisms and feasibility in cancer treatment

Zhiguang Chen1, Liang Sang1, Donglin Bian1

  • 1Department of Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China.

Theranostics
|June 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Piezo-catalytic immunotherapy uses piezoelectric materials to boost cancer cell death and immune responses. This approach enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) production for improved cancer immunotherapy outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but efficacy is limited to a subset of patients.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated immunogenic cell death (ICD) offers a promising avenue for precision cancer immunotherapy.
  • Sonodynamic therapy is an emerging strategy that utilizes ROS for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the pathways and mechanisms of piezo-catalytic immunotherapy.
  • To explore the potential of piezoelectric materials in enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
  • To provide insights for developing novel cancer immunotherapy strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on immunotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, and piezoelectric materials.
  • Analysis of mechanisms involving ROS production and immunogenic cell death.
  • Investigation of electrical stimulation from piezoelectric effects on immune response and necroptosis.

Main Results:

  • Piezoelectric materials enhance ROS production, augmenting ICD-induced immunotherapy.
  • Electrical stimulation from piezoelectricity activates immune responses and necroptosis.
  • Piezo-catalytic immunotherapy demonstrates synergistic effects for enhanced efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Piezo-catalytic immunotherapy presents a novel strategy for cancer treatment by combining piezoelectricity with immunotherapy.
  • Enhanced ROS production and immune activation are key mechanisms for its efficacy.
  • This approach offers promising insights for future cancer immunotherapy development.

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