Emerging Sonodynamic Therapy‐Based Nanomedicines for Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy effect can be greatly enhanced by other methods to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which has profoundly affected immunotherapy as a highly efficient paradigm. However, these treatments have significant limitations, either by causing damage of the immune system or limited to superficial tumors. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can induce ICD to promote immunotherapy without affecting the immune system because of its excellent spatiotemporal selectivity and low side effects. Nevertheless, SDT is still limited by low reactive oxygen species yield and the complex tumor microenvironment. Recently, some emerging SDT‐based nanomedicines have made numerous attractive and encouraging achievements in the field of cancer immunotherapy due to high immunotherapeutic efficiency. However, this cross‐cutting field of research is still far from being widely explored due to huge professional barriers. Herein, the characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment and the mechanisms of ICD are firstly systematically summarized. Subsequently, the therapeutic mechanism of SDT is fully summarized, and the advantages and limitations of SDT are discussed. The representative advances of SDT‐based nanomedicines for cancer immunotherapy are further highlighted. Finally, the application prospects and challenges of SDT‐based immunotherapy in future clinical translation are discussed.

Radiation‐Induced Immunogenic Cell Death for Cancer Radioimmunotherapy

“…Meanwhile, other novel therapeutic modalities such as PDT and SDT, which have been reported either on inducing ICD or combined with RT separately, have attracted deficient research interests for the combination with RT to elicit ICD. [ 117–119 ] The incomplete study could be due to their similar function on inducing ROS‐related cytotoxicity as well as the burgeon stage of research on ICD induced by respective RT, PDT, or SDT, which needs more effort in the future to evaluate the synergistic effect.…”

“…Meanwhile, other novel therapeutic modalities such as PDT and SDT, which have been reported either on inducing ICD or combined with RT separately, have attracted deficient research interests for the combination with RT to elicit ICD. [117][118][119] Reproduced with permission. [115] Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society.…”

Emerging Nano‐Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Glioma

“…The emerging co‐therapy of SDT and nano‐immunotherapy has profoundly enhanced cancer treatment, representing a highly potent paradigm. [ 227 ] However, this strategy has been rarely explored in glioma treatment, requiring further investigation to unveil its potential.…”

Erythrocyte membrane-camouflaged DNA-functionalized upconversion nanoparticles for tumor-targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy

“…9 Tumor cells undergoing ICD can generate a large number of tumor fragments in situ and release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) into the surrounding environment, including calreticulin (CRT), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). 10 CRT is an “eat me” signal that encourages the phagocytic engulfment of cancer cells by DCs. 11 ATP serves as a “find me” signal to recruit antigen-presenting cells (APCs).…”