Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Evaluation of the In vivo Antitumor Activity of Polyanhydride IL-1α Nanoparticles
09:57

Evaluation of the In vivo Antitumor Activity of Polyanhydride IL-1α Nanoparticles

Published on: June 28, 2021

Poly(I:C) Lipoamino Bundle LNPs Induce Tumor Cytotoxicity and Immune Activation with Enhanced Efficacy by Survivin

Mina Yazdi1,2, Zahra Hasheminejad1, Khouloud Hachani3

  • 1Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Synthetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) shows promise as a cancer therapy. New lipoamino fatty acid xenopeptide (LAF-XP) carriers effectively deliver poly(I:C) into cells, enhancing anti-tumor activity and immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Synthetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) has dual anticancer functions: direct tumor cell killing and immunostimulation.
  • Effective intracellular delivery of poly(I:C) is crucial for activating its receptors and maximizing therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop efficient pH-responsive formulations for intracellular delivery of poly(I:C).
  • To evaluate the anti-tumoral activity and immunomodulatory effects of poly(I:C) delivered via novel lipoamino fatty acid xenopeptide (LAF-XP) carriers.

Main Methods:

  • Formulation of poly(I:C)-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using LAF-XP carriers (bundle LAF4-Stp1).
  • Assessment of anti-tumoral activity in various cancer cell models.
  • Evaluation of immune responses, including CXCL10 production and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) activation (phenotypic markers and cytokine production).
  • Combination therapy with siRNA-mediated survivin knockdown.

Main Results:

  • LAF-XP LNP-formulated poly(I:C) demonstrated enhanced anti-tumoral activity at lower doses compared to controls.
  • Delivery of poly(I:C) via LAF-XP LNPs stimulated immune responses, evidenced by increased CXCL10, CD69, LAMP-1/CD107a, IFN-γ, and granzyme B.
  • Conditioned PBMC supernatant reduced cancer cell viability, indicating immune-mediated tumor cell death.
  • Combined poly(I:C) and survivin siRNA delivery via LAF-XP LNP increased cancer cell apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Efficient LAF-XP LNPs serve as a versatile platform for delivering poly(I:C).
  • This platform supports multi-layered therapeutic strategies, including combined immunotherapy and gene silencing, for enhanced cancer treatment.
Keywords:
PBMCscancerlipid nanoparticleslipoamino fatty acidpoly(I:C)survivin

Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...