Bacteria loaded with glucose polymer and photosensitive ICG silicon-nanoparticles for glioblastoma photothermal immunotherapy

• Published in: Nature communications 2022-09, Vol.13 (1), p.5127-5127, Article 5127
• Main Authors: Sun, Rong, Liu, Mingzhu, Lu, Jianping, Chu, Binbin, Yang, Yunmin, Song, Bin, Wang, Houyu, He, Yao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/31; 14/32; 14/5; 14/63; 147/137; 147/143; 631/326/41/2537; 631/67/1922; 639/925/352/152; 64/60; Antigens; Antitumor activity; Bacteria; Blood-brain barrier; Brain cancer; Central nervous system; Central nervous system diseases; Chemotherapy; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Glioblastoma; Glioblastoma cells; Glucose; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immune response; Immune system; Immunotherapy; Irradiation; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Photosensitivity; Polymers; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silicon; Tumors
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32837-5

Bacteria can bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), suggesting the possibility of employment of bacteria for combating central nervous system diseases. Herein, we develop a bacteria-based drug delivery system for glioblastoma (GBM) photothermal immunotherapy. The system, which we name as ‘Trojan bacteria’, consists of bacteria loaded with glucose polymer and photosensitive ICG silicon-nanoparticles. In an orthotopic GBM mouse model, we demonstrate that the intravenously injected bacteria bypass the BBB, targeting and penetrating GBM tissues. Upon 808 nm-laser irradiation, the photothermal effects produced by ICG allow the destruction of bacterial cells and the adjacent tumour cells. Furthermore, the bacterial debris as well as the tumour-associated antigens promote antitumor immune responses that prolong the survival of GBM-bearing mice. Moreover, we demonstrate the residual bacteria are effectively eliminated from the body, supporting the potential therapeutic use of this system. Different blood-brain barrier permeable systems, such as bacteria loaded with chemotherapy, have been proposed to treat glioblastoma. Here, the authors generate bacteria loaded with glucose polymer and photosensitive ICG silicon-nanoparticles to eliminate bacteria-infected glioblastoma cells and induce an anti-tumour immune response upon photothermal therapy.