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Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Author Spotlight: Innovative Microneedle-Based Strategies for Enhanced Exosome Delivery and Stability
Published on: July 12, 2024
Carrier-Free Nanoadjuvant-Loaded Bilayer Microneedles for Programmed and Individualized Cancer Chemo-Immunotherapy
Chenlu Huang1, Hanyong Wang1, Xinyu Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China.
This study introduces a novel microneedle patch for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that combines chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This dual-action approach significantly boosts anti-tumor immune responses and suppresses tumor growth.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Research
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) shows limited efficacy with current immunotherapies.
- Developing novel strategies to enhance chemo-immunotherapy for TNBC is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a double-layer microneedle (MN) patch for boosted chemo-immunotherapy in TNBC.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of localized drug delivery and in situ nanovaccine generation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a double-layer MN patch with doxorubicin (DOX) in the shell and carrier-free nanoadjuvants in the core.
- Investigating the biphasic release kinetics of DOX and nanoadjuvants.
- Evaluating the efficacy of the MN patch in combination with antiprogrammed cell death protein-1 (aPD-1) therapy in preclinical models.
Main Results:
- The MN patch demonstrated controlled, biphasic release of DOX and nanoadjuvants, inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) and tumor-associated antigen (TAA) presentation.
- Sustained release of nanoadjuvants facilitated in situ nanovaccine generation, enhancing anti-tumor immune responses.
- Combined MN patch and aPD-1 therapy significantly suppressed tumor growth and improved therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The developed double-layer MN patch serves as an effective platform for copackaging and biphasic release of chemotherapeutics and nanoadjuvants.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for advanced synergistic chemo-immunotherapy in TNBC.
- The MN patch system holds potential for personalized cancer treatment by generating in situ nanovaccines.
