Multifunctional nanocomposites utilizing ruthenium (II) complex/manganese (IV) dioxide nanoparticle for synergistic reinforcing radioimmunotherapy

• Published in: Journal of nanobiotechnology 2024-11, Vol.22 (1), p.735-17, Article 735
• Main Authors: Peng, Jian, Quan, Dong-Ling, Yang, Guang, Wei, Lin-Tao, Yang, Zhuan, Dong, Zhi-Ying, Zou, Yi-Ming, Hou, Ying-Ke, Chen, Jin-Xiang, Lv, Lin, Sun, Bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Cell Line, Tumor; cGAS-STING; Coordination Complexes - chemistry; Coordination Complexes - pharmacology; Coordination Complexes - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Liposomes - chemistry; Manganese Compounds - chemistry; Manganese Compounds - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; MnO2; Multifunctional Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanocomposites - therapeutic use; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Oxides - chemistry; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - chemistry; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Radioimmunotherapy; Radioimmunotherapy - methods; Radiosensitizer; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Ruthenium - chemistry; Ruthenium complex; Tumor Microenvironment - drug effects
• ISSN: 1477-3155; 1477-3155
• DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-03013-2

Radiotherapy (RT) stands as a frontline treatment modality in clinical breast oncology, yet challenges like ROS reduction, high toxicity, non-selectivity, and hypoxia hinder efficacy. Additionally, RT administered at different doses can induce varying degrees of radioimmunotherapy. High doses of radiation (>10 Gy) may result in immune suppression, while moderate doses (4-10 Gy), although capable of mitigating the immune suppression caused by high-dose radiation, are often insufficient in effectively killing tumor cells. Therefore, enhancing the generation of ROS and ameliorating the tumor hypoxic immune-suppressive microenvironment at moderate radiation doses could potentially drive radiation-induced immune responses, offering a fundamental solution to the limitations of RT. In this study, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform, RMLF, integrating a Ru (II) complex into folate-functionalized liposomes with BSA-MnO nanoparticles was proposed. Orthogonal experimental optimization enhances radiosensitization via increasing accumulation in cancer cells, elevating ROS, and contributing to a dual enhancement of the cGAS-STING-dependent type I IFN signaling pathway, aimed to overcome the insufficient DAMPs typically seen in the conventional RT at 4 Gy. Such a strategy effectively activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes for infiltration into tumor tissues and promoted the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages from the M2 to M1 phenotype, substantially bolstering immune memory responses. This pioneering approach represents the first use of a ruthenium complex in radioimmunotherapy, activating the cGAS-STING pathway to amplify immune responses, overcome RT resistance, and extend immunotherapeutic potential.