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Nanomaterials-Guided Metabolism-Immunity Crosstalk for Boosting Cancer Immunotherapy
Yongjuan Li1,2, Nannan Sun3, Yichen Guo3
1Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P. R. China.
Biomacromolecules
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Nanomaterials can reprogram tumor metabolism to enhance cancer immunotherapy. This approach targets the complex interplay between tumor cell metabolism and immune responses, offering a promising strategy for improved cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Nanotechnology
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy shows promise but is hindered by tumor metabolic reprogramming.
- Tumor metabolism fuels cancer growth and creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
- Metabolic competition and immunosuppressive metabolites disrupt anti-tumor immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review tumor metabolic patterns and their role in cancer progression and immunosuppression.
- To systematically summarize the application of nanomaterials in modulating cancer cell and immune cell metabolism.
- To highlight the potential of nanomaterial-guided metabolism-immunity crosstalk for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on tumor metabolic reprogramming (glucose, amino acid, lipid, nucleotide metabolism).
- Systematic summary of nanomaterial-based strategies targeting tumor cell and immune cell metabolism.
- Analysis of nanomaterial applications in inhibiting immunosuppressive cells and reinforcing immune cell function.
Main Results:
- Nanomaterials offer versatile platforms for modulating tumor and immune cell metabolism.
- Strategies include inhibiting aberrant metabolism in tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and macrophages.
- Nanomaterials can also enhance the metabolism of immune cells like dendritic cells and T lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
- Interfering with metabolism-immunity crosstalk using nanomaterials is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
- Nanomaterial-guided approaches can overcome limitations imposed by tumor metabolic reprogramming.
- Further research and clinical translation are needed to fully realize the potential of these strategies.
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Overview