Engineering magnetic nano-manipulators for boosting cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has shown promising therapeutic results in the clinic, albeit only in a limited number of cancer types, and its efficacy remains less than satisfactory. Nanoparticle-based approaches have been shown to increase the response to immunotherapies to address this limitation. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a powerful manipulator are an appealing option for comprehensively regulating the immune system in vivo due to their unique magnetically responsive properties and high biocompatibility. This review focuses on assessing the potential applications of MNPs in enhancing tumor accumulation of immunotherapeutic agents and immunogenicity, improving immune cell infiltration, and creating an immunotherapy-sensitive environment. We summarize recent progress in the application of MNP-based manipulators to augment the efficacy of immunotherapy, by MNPs and their multiple magnetically responsive effects under different types of external magnetic field. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanisms underlying the promotion of antitumor immunity, including magnetically actuated delivery and controlled release of immunotherapeutic agents, tracking and visualization of immune response in real time, and magnetic regulation of innate/adaptive immune cells. Finally, we consider perspectives and challenges in MNP-based immunotherapy.

Identification of neutrophil‐related genes and development of a prognostic model for cholangiocarcinoma

“…It is well established that the immune system plays a critical role in cancer development and progression. [6][7][8][9][10] In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between neutrophils and cancer. Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cells in the body, are traditionally thought to play a role in acute inflammation and host defense against infection.…”

“…It is well established that the immune system plays a critical role in cancer development and progression 6–10 . In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between neutrophils and cancer.…”

Development of an ubiquitin‐proteasome system signature for predicting prognosis and providing therapeutic guidance for patients with triple‐negative breast cancer

“…To the best of our knowledge, ICBs developed to target immune checkpoint genes have shown promise in some patients 37 . The use of nanomaterials can be combined with anti‐tumor drugs to kill tumors, and can also be designed to boost the body’s own immunity to achieve the effect of multiple treatments 38,39 . The results of this study show that the UPS score could predict different degrees of immune microenvironment, suggesting the possibility of precision immunotherapy.…”

Effect of surface modification on the distribution of magnetic nanorings in hepatocellular carcinoma and immune cells

“…At present, MHT focuses on (1) how to improve the magnetothermal conversion efficiency of magnetic nanomaterials, [13][14][15][16] (2) how to improve the internalization amounts of magnetic nanomaterials inside tumor cells, [17][18][19][20] and (3) how to improve the anti-tumor immune effects, in fighting tumor cells. [21][22][23][24] All these studies highlighted the tumoricidal roles of therapeutic heating located inside tumor cells and the induction of a strong immune response initiated by provoking immunogenic tumor cell death. For example, in our previous studies, ferrimagnetic vortex-domain iron oxide nanorings (FVIO)-mediated MHT enable the induction of immunogenic tumor cell death when FVIOs enter the tumor cells by endocytosis, further enhancing the infiltration of T lymphocytes to activate the adaptive immunity.…”