Interaction of dendrimers with the immune system: An insight into cancer nanotheranostics

Abstract

The immune system is a network of defense mechanisms, made up of organs, tissues, and diversified immune cells, with the mission of detecting and attacking invading pathogens. Cancer immunotherapy, which triggers effective anticancer responses via the regulation or alteration of the immune system, has emerged as one novel powerful strategy to fight cancer in contrast to the conventional resorts including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. With the recent rapid development of nanomedicine, more opportunities are afforded to achieve highly efficient cancer immunotherapy. Dendrimers present a category of nano-sized macromolecules with highly-branched three-dimensional structure, favorable biocompatibility, and tunable surface functionality. Various kinds of functionalized dendrimers and dendrimer-based nanohybrids have been explored in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, and they have recently been proven to be promising in cancer immunotherapy. Herein we concisely review the interesting immunomodulatory effects of dendrimers, in particular the recent advances in dendrimer-facilitated cancer immunotherapy and cancer immunity visualization, and clarify the possible future perspectives for the design of dendrimerbased cancer immunotheranostics.

Overcoming T Cell Exhaustion via Immune Checkpoint Modulation with a Dendrimer‐Based Hybrid Nanocomplex

“…For cancer immunotherapy, [20] Au DENPs have also been developed as a nonviral vector to condense CpG, an oligonucleotide adjuvant to stimulate dendritic cells for maturation and further T cell activation, [21] and to deliver PD-L1 siRNA into melanoma cells for ICB-based tumor immunotherapy. [22] On the other hand, Au DENPs can be modified with a Ca(II) sensor to monitor the activity and location of T cells through fluorescence imaging and computed tomography (CT) imaging, respectively.…”

Nanomedicine‐boosting icaritin-based immunotherapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

“…In addition, the application of nanomedicines would benefit cancer immunotherapy through optimal design principles [ 78 – 80 ]. For example, composite carriers with photodynamic, chemodynamic, sonodynamic and other dynamic properties to trigger ICD could be further constructed to deliver icaritin to increase the antigenicity of HCC, maximize the immunoactivities of icaritin, and reduce the immunosuppression in advanced HCC [ 81 , 82 ].…”

Enhancing Skin Cancer Immunotheranostics and Precision Medicine through Functionalized Nanomodulators and Nanosensors: Recent Development and Prospects

“…Carbosilane dendrimers limit M2 macrophage polarization by reducing IL-10 production in M2 macrophages. This favors anti-tumor response by switching M2 macrophage phenotype to M1, thereby facilitating an anticancer response [ 120 ]. PAMAM G3 dendrimers substituted with R-glycidol and celecoxib/simvastatin demonstrate an efficient, targeted drug delivery potential and can be tested for immunotherapeutics [ 121 ].…”