Targeting Protumoral Tumor-Associated Macrophages with Nanobody-Functionalized Nanogels through Strain Promoted Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition Ligation

Bioconjug Chem. 2018 Jul 18;29(7):2394-2405. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00319. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with high expression levels of the Macrophage Mannose Receptor (MMR, CD206) exhibit a strong angiogenic and immune suppressive activity. Thus, they are a highly attractive target in cancer immunotherapy, with the aim to modulate their protumoral behavior. Here, we introduce polymer nanogels as potential drug nanocarriers which were site-specifically decorated with a Nanobody (Nb) specific for the MMR. Using azide-functionalized RAFT chain transfer agents, they provide access to amphiphilic reactive ester block copolymers that self-assemble into micelles and are afterwards core-cross-linked toward fully hydrophilic nanogels with terminal azide groups on their surface. MMR-targeting Nb can site-selectively be functionalized with one single cyclooctyne moiety by maleimide-cysteine chemistry under mildly reducing conditions which enables successful chemoorthogonal conjugation to the nanogels. The resulting Nb-functionalized nanogels were highly efficient in targeting MMR-expressing cells and TAMs both in vitro and in vivo. We believe that these findings pave the road for targeted eradication or modulation of pro-tumoral MMRhigh TAMs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Azides
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins / immunology*
  • Micelles
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Polymers
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Azides
  • Drug Carriers
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins
  • Micelles
  • Polymers
  • Receptors, Cell Surface