Immunostimulatory silica nanoparticle boosts innate immunity in brain tumors

Nanoscale Horiz. 2021 Feb 1;6(2):156-167. doi: 10.1039/d0nh00446d. Epub 2021 Jan 5.

Abstract

The high mortality associated with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is attributed to its invasive nature, hypoxic core, resistant cell subpopulations and a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To support adaptive immune function and establish a more robust antitumor immune response, we boosted the local innate immune compartment of GBM using an immunostimulatory mesoporous silica nanoparticle, termed immuno-MSN. The immuno-MSN was specifically designed for systemic and proficient delivery of a potent innate immune agonist to dysfunctional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the brain TME. The cargo of the immuno-MSN was cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (cdGMP), a Stimulator of Interferon Gene (STING) agonist. Studies showed the immuno-MSN promoted the uptake of STING agonist by APCs in vitro and the subsequent release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon β, 6-fold greater than free agonist. In an orthotopic GBM mouse model, systemically administered immuno-MSN particles were taken up by APCs in the near-perivascular regions of the brain tumor with striking efficiency. The immuno-MSNs facilitated the recruitment of dendritic cells and macrophages to the TME while sparing healthy brain tissue and peripheral organs, resulting in elevated circulating CD8+ T cell activity (2.5-fold) and delayed GBM tumor growth. We show that an engineered immunostimulatory nanoparticle can support pro-inflammatory innate immune function in GBM and subsequently augment current immunotherapeutic interventions and improve their therapeutic outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / chemical synthesis
  • Cyclic GMP / therapeutic use
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects*
  • Immunologic Factors / chemical synthesis
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Porosity
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interferon Type I
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Cyclic GMP