Sustained and targeted delivery of checkpoint inhibitors by metal-organic frameworks for cancer immunotherapy

Sci Adv. 2021 Jan 22;7(4):eabe7174. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe7174. Print 2021 Jan.

Abstract

The major impediments to the implementation of cancer immunotherapies are the sustained immune effect and the targeted delivery of these therapeutics, as they have life-threatening adverse effects. In this work, biomimetic metal-organic frameworks [zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs)] are used for the controlled delivery of nivolumab (NV), a monoclonal antibody checkpoint inhibitor that was U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved back in 2014. The sustained release behavior of NV-ZIF has shown a higher efficacy than the naked NV to activate T cells in hematological malignancies. The system was further modified by coating NV-ZIF with cancer cell membrane to enable tumor-specific targeted delivery while treating solid tumors. We envisage that such a biocompatible and biodegradable immunotherapeutic delivery system may promote the development and the translation of hybrid superstructures into smart and personalized delivery platforms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetics
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks* / chemistry
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • United States
  • Zeolites* / chemistry

Substances

  • Metal-Organic Frameworks
  • Zeolites