Nanomaterials: A powerful tool for tumor immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer represents the leading global driver of death and is recognized as a critical obstacle to increasing life expectancy. In recent years, with the development of precision medicine, significant progress has been made in cancer treatment. Among them, various therapies developed with the help of the immune system have succeeded in clinical treatment, recognizing and killing cancer cells by stimulating or enhancing the body’s intrinsic immune system. However, low response rates and serious adverse effects, among others, have limited the use of immunotherapy. It also poses problems such as drug resistance and hyper-progression. Fortunately, thanks to the rapid development of nanotechnology, engineered multifunctional nanomaterials and biomaterials have brought breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Unlike conventional cancer immunotherapy, nanomaterials can be rationally designed to trigger specific tumor-killing effects. Simultaneously, improved infiltration of immune cells into metastatic lesions enhances the efficiency of antigen submission and induces a sustained immune reaction. Such a strategy directly reverses the immunological condition of the primary tumor, arrests metastasis and inhibits tumor recurrence through postoperative immunotherapy. This paper discusses several types of nanoscale biomaterials for cancer immunotherapy, and they activate the immune system through material-specific advantages to provide novel therapeutic strategies. In summary, this article will review the latest advances in tumor immunotherapy based on self-assembled, mesoporous, cell membrane modified, metallic, and hydrogel nanomaterials to explore diverse tumor therapies.

Carbon Nanomaterials: Emerging Roles in Immuno-Oncology

“…Nanomaterial-based delivery techniques have previously provided a suitable solution to cancer immunotherapy’s essential challenges [ 27 ]. The primary hurdles for cancer immunotherapies can be ascribed to the lack of delivery mechanisms that can keep therapeutic payloads accessible to their targets [ 28 ].…”

“…However, due to their extensive tunable functional groups and drug-carrying abilities, nanomaterials can enable tailored drug delivery to tumor locations or immunological organs. By reacting to internal or external stimuli, they can perform specific functionalities such as drug integration, effective biological barrier penetration, accurate administration of immunomodulators, and regulated release to enable effective tumor immunotherapy [ 27 ].…”

Immune checkpoint blockade for locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer: An update on clinical data

“…Thus, it may be worthwhile exploring potential immunotherapy options associated with other immune cells, including B cells, and their interaction with HPV. Third, new evidence suggests that the route of administration and drug dosage forms can be improved through the use of nanomaterials ( 114 , 115 ). In addition, by enriching public databases and developing novel computer algorithms, several studies have established various models and systems for screening tumor-associated neoantigens and quantitatively evaluating TME ( 116 , 117 ).…”

Four Ounces Can Move a Thousand Pounds: The Enormous Value of Nanomaterials in Tumor Immunotherapy

“…The interaction between the immune system and tumor forms the tumor microenvironment (TME), which supports the growth and spread of tumors as well as resistance to conventional therapies. [ 8–10 ] Therefore, immunotherapy‐based anti‐tumor strategies are a top priority and have resulted in the approval of several immunotherapeutic agents by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over 50 cancer types. [ 11 ] However, like existing treatment options, immunotherapy is not beneficial for every individual.…”