Schematic illustration of nanomaterial-mediated modulation of the cancer immunity cycle. (IMAGE)

China Anti-Cancer Association

Schematic illustration of nanomaterial-mediated modulation of the cancer immunity cycle.

Caption

Schematic illustration of nanomaterial-mediated modulation of the cancer immunity cycle. This schematic illustrates the core strategies of nanomaterials in systematically enhancing cancer immunotherapy efficacy by promoting antigen presentation, boosting T cell priming and infiltration, and modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. (A) Facilitating antigen delivery to APCs: NPs co-deliver antigens and adjuvants that trigger dendritic cell (DC) maturation. (B) Facilitating antigen presentation in APCs: Engineered NPs facilitate endo-lysosomal escape, thereby enhancing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II-mediated antigen cross-presentation. (C) Facilitating T cell infiltration into tumors: NPs remodel the tumor stroma and extracellular matrix (ECM), and promote deep T cell infiltration. (D) Counteracting inhibitory signaling: Targeted NPs block immune checkpoints and restore T cell cytotoxic activity. (E) Stimulating co-stimulatory pathways: Nanomodulators provide essential secondary signals that robustly activate T cells. (F) Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages: NPs repolarize M2-type macrophages into a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, thereby amplifying the immune response. (G) Modulating cytokine signaling within the TME: NPs enable localized delivery of cytokines or nucleic acids, thus enhancing local immunity while significantly decreasing systemic toxicity. (H) Alleviating hypoxia and metabolic suppression: NPs alleviate the hypoxic microenvironment, inhibit tumor glycolysis, and ultimately restore T cell fitness. APCs, antigen-presenting cells; DC, dendritic cell; ECM, extracellular matrix; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; NPs, nanoparticles; PD-1, programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1; TCR, T cell receptor; TME, tumor microenvironment; TNF, tumor necrosis factor. Created in Adobe Illustrator.

Credit

Cancer Biology & Medicine

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