Research progress of nanovaccine in anti-tumor immunotherapy

Abstract

Tumor vaccines aim to activate dormant or unresponsive tumor-specific T lymphocytes by using tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigens, thus enhancing the body’s natural defense against cancer. However, the effectiveness of tumor vaccines is limited by the presence of tumor heterogeneity, low immunogenicity, and immune evasion mechanisms. Fortunately, multifunctional nanoparticles offer a unique chance to address these issues. With the advantages of their small size, high stability, efficient drug delivery, and controlled surface chemistry, nanomaterials can precisely target tumor sites, improve the delivery of tumor antigens and immune adjuvants, reshape the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and enhance the body’s anti-tumor immune response, resulting in improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Nanovaccine, a type of vaccine that uses nanotechnology to deliver antigens and adjuvants to immune cells, has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy due to its ability to stimulate immune responses and induce tumor-specific immunity. In this review, we discussed the compositions and types of nanovaccine, and the mechanisms behind their anti-tumor effects based on the latest research. We hope that this will provide a more scientific basis for designing tumor vaccines and enhancing the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy.

Targeting the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway for cancer therapy: from mechanism to clinical studies

“…Cancer vaccines aim to activate latent or unresponsive tumor-specific T cells, bolstering the innate immune defense against cancer. 487 Various cancer immunotherapies have been developed to trigger tumor-specific immune response in tumor patients. Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) as a cancer vaccine adjuvant.…”

The quest for nanoparticle-powered vaccines in cancer immunotherapy

“…Their exceptional physicochemical properties, such as large surface area-to-volume ratios, controllable surface charges, make them highly versatile delivery vehicles for vaccine formulations [ 60 ]. Moreover, NPs can be engineered with various targeting molecules including peptides, proteins, polymers, cell-penetrating peptides, and others on their surface [ 60 , 64 , 65 ], enabling efficient targeting and penetration of major components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) [ 66 ]. Furthermore, due to damaged lymphatic drainage and leaky tumor vasculature, NPs tend to accumulate more in tumors than in normal tissues, which significantly enhances the efficacy of nanovaccines [ 66 ].…”