Myeloid cell-targeted lipid nanoparticles for B cell lymphoma immunotherapy

We previously demonstrated that blocking tolerogenic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in the tumor microenvironment can unleash Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)-mediated antitumor immunity. To enable systemic administration of minimally modified CpG-siSTAT3, we developed a panel of MC3-based lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations optimized for targeting immune cells and B cell lymphoma cells. The selected LNP2(CpG-siSTAT3) induced potent type I interferon (IFN) production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and resulted in >50% STAT3 knockdown in human cancer cells at low oligonucleotide concentrations. In vivo, LNP2(CpG-siSTAT3) showed a 10-fold improvement in potency against B cell lymphoma xenotransplants compared to the naked oligonucleotide. Further changes in chemical composition yielded LNP2.1, which preferentially targeted human monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). In A20 lymphoma-bearing mice, the fluorescently labeled LNP2.1(CpG-siSTAT3) quickly drained to local tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) after subcutaneous injection and was taken up by activated DCs and macrophages. Furthermore, LNP2.1(CpG-siSTAT3) administration significantly reduced A20 tumor growth by rapidly activating DCs and macrophages in TDLNs, thereby promoting T cell activation and specifically increasing tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic CD8 T cells secreting IFNγ and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The LNP2.1 formulation offers an effective vehicle for targeting tolerogenic myeloid cells in the B cell lymphoma microenvironment and potentially in solid tumors.