Degradable Carbon–Silica Nanocomposite with Immunoadjuvant Property for Dual-Modality Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterials have flourished for cancer therapy for decades. However, their practical applications on clinical bases still pose a challenge to address the dilemma of metabolism in vivo. In this study, an attempt is made to design a degradable carbon–silica nanocomposite (CSN) with immunoadjuvant property, which could undergo an enzyme-free degradation process into small particles (∼5 nm) and facilitate its clinical application. CSN harbors photothermal and photodynamic properties and as an immunoadjuvant would help to generate tumor-associated antigens and mature dendritic cells (DCs). Potent antitumor effects have been achieved in both 4T1 and patient-derived xenograft tumor models with tumor inhibition efficiencies of 93.2% and 92.5%, respectively. We believe that this strategy will benefit the possible clinical translation and carbon–silica-nanomaterial-based cancer therapy.

Recent Advances in Hyperthermia Therapy‐Based Synergistic Immunotherapy

“…fabricated a degradable carbon‐silica nanocomposite with immunoadjuvant properties for PTT/PDT‐induced immunotherapy. [ 136 ] Sun et al. constructed synergistic phototherapy and immunotherapy against melanoma by coencapsulating the Ce6 and aluminum hydroxide immunoadjuvant into BSA through albumin‐based biomineralization to form an ingenious nanocomposite (Al‐BSA‐Ce6).…”

“…Apart from the well-defined nanomaterials for HTT and ROS-synergized immunotherapy, Liu et al fabricated a degradable carbon-silica nanocomposite with immunoadjuvant properties for PTT/PDT-induced immunotherapy. [136] Sun et al constructed synergistic phototherapy and immunotherapy against melanoma by coencapsulating the Ce6 and aluminum hydroxide immunoadjuvant into BSA through albumin-based biomineralization to form an ingenious nanocomposite (Al-BSA-Ce6). [69] Ma et al designed a TME-responsive prodrug nanoplatform by the coassembly of PEGylated IDO inhibitor and amphiphilic photosensitizer ICG, which presented a promising approach for synchronous PTT/PDT and IDO inhibition combined with anti-PD-L1 ICB therapy for more effective treatment of solid tumors.…”

Light: A Magical Tool for Controlled Drug Delivery

“…Nevertheless, the practical clinical utility of carbon nanomaterials‐based therapies is limited by their dilemma of in vivo metabolism. [ 117 ] To address this challenge, the carbon–silica nanohybrid was rationally designed and constructed, which could degrade into about 5 nm small nanoparticles after NIR light irradiation for effective in vivo elimination. The carbon–silica nanocomposite with excellent photodynamic and photothermal capabilities could also act as inherent immunoadjuvant for synergistic phototherapy and immunotherapy for complete cancer elimination.…”

“…The carbon–silica nanocomposite with excellent photodynamic and photothermal capabilities could also act as inherent immunoadjuvant for synergistic phototherapy and immunotherapy for complete cancer elimination. [ 117 ]…”

A targeting black phosphorus nanoparticle based immune cells nano-regulator for photodynamic/photothermal and photo-immunotherapy

“…The combined therapy of PDT and PTT is a desirable therapeutic method, because PDT could disturb tumor physiology by interfering with tumor microenvironment (TME) to increase the sensitively of tumor cells to PTT [ 10 ]. Meantime, heat produced by PTT can increase blood flow and thus improve oxygen supply to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of PDT [ 11 ]. In addition, the tumor cell debris produced by phototherapy could act as tumor-associate antigens and cause anti-tumor immune responds to eliminate residual and metastatic cancer cells [ 12 , 13 ].…”