Combining immune checkpoint blockade with ATP-based immunogenic cell death amplifier for cancer chemo-immunotherapy

Abstract

Amplifying “eat me signal” during tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD) cascade is crucial for tumor immunotherapy. Inspired by the indispensable role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP, a necessary “eat me signal” for ICD), a versatile ICD amplifier was developed for chemotherapy-sensitized immunotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX), ATP and ferrous ions (Fe ²⁺) were co-assembled into nanosized amplifier (ADO-Fe) through π‒π stacking and coordination effect. Meanwhile, phenylboric acid-polyethylene glycol-phenylboric acid (PBA-PEG-PBA) was modified on the surface of ADO-Fe (denoted as PADO-Fe) by the virtue of d-ribose unit of ATP. PADO-Fe could display active targetability against tumor cells via sialic acid/PBA interaction. In acidic microenvironment, PBA-PEG-PBA would dissociate from amplifier. Moreover, high H ₂O ₂ concentration would induce hydroxyl radical (·OH) and oxygen (O ₂) generation through Fenton reaction by Fe ²⁺. DOX and ATP would be released from the amplifier, which could induce ICD effect and “ICD adjuvant” to amplify this process. Together with programmed death ligands 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, PADO-Fe could not only activate immune response against primary tumor, but also strong abscopal effect against distant tumor. Our simple and multifunctional ICD amplifier opens a new window for enhancing ICD effect and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Graphical abstract

Inspired by the indispensable role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in immunogenic cell death (ICD) cascade, a novel ICD amplifier (PADO-Fe) was developed for chemotherapy-sensitized immunotherapy.