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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy for Mouse Models of Pleural Dissemination
Published on: February 9, 2021
Manganese Vacancy-Engineered Prussian Blue Triggers Pyroptosis-Driven Innate Immunity for Second Near-Infrared Region
Xiaorui Wang1, Runtao Li1, Ye Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), School of Flexible Electronics (Future Technologies), School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (Nanjing Tech), Nanjing 211816, China.
Abstract:
Synergistic activation of innate immunity and adaptive immunity provides a promising way to improve cancer immunotherapy, but achieving their precise and co-activation remains a major challenge. Here, we constructed a copper-doped manganese vacancy (VMn)-engineered Prussian blue derivative (CuVMn-PBA) as a dual functional pyroptosis-cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes signaling (cGAS-STING) activator for second near-infrared region (NIR-II) photoimmunotherapy. The VMn induced by acid etching narrowed the bandgap and enhanced NIR-II absorption at 1060 nm, while Cu doping acted as electron-trapping sites to promote electron-hole separation, jointly boosting multienzymatic/photocatalytic activity. Under 1060 nm laser irradiation, this dual modification enabled robust reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation even in hypoxia. Excessive ROS-induced oxidative stress triggered gasdermin E-mediated tumor cell pyroptosis, driving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release into the cytoplasm, which cooperated with dissociated Mn2+ and pyroptosis-derived inflammatory factors to activate the cGAS-STING pathway. This cascade elevated tumor immunogenicity, promoted dendritic cells (DCs) maturation and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) infiltration, and established long-term antitumor immune memory. In combination with αPD-1 checkpoint blockade, CuVMn-PBA mediated complete primary tumor regression, suppressed distant tumor growth, and abrogated tumor recurrence, offering a promising paradigm for enhanced cancer photoimmunotherapy.

