Copackaging photosensitizer and PD-L1 siRNA in a nucleic acid nanogel for synergistic cancer photoimmunotherapy

Sci Adv. 2022 Apr 22;8(16):eabn2941. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abn2941. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Abstract

Packaging multiple drugs into a nanocarrier with rational design to achieve synergistic cancer therapy remains a challenge due to the intrinsically varied pharmacodynamics of therapeutic agents. Especially difficult is combining small-molecule drugs and macromolecular biologics. Here, we successfully graft pheophorbide A (PPA) photosensitizers on DNA backbone at predesigned phosphorothioate modification sites. The synthesized four PPA-grafted DNAs are assembled into a tetrahedron framework, which further associates with a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) linker through supramolecular self-assembly to form an siRNA and PPA copackaged nanogel. With dual therapeutic agents inside, the nanogel can photodynamically kill tumor cells and induce remarkable immunogenic cell death. Also, it simultaneously silences the PD-L1 expression of the tumor cells, which substantially promotes the antitumor immune response and leads to an enhanced antitumor efficacy in a synergistic fashion.

MeSH terms

  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Nanogels
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Nucleic Acids*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Nanogels
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • polyethylene glycol polyethyleneimine nanogel
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine