Site-selective superassembly of biomimetic nanorobots enabling deep penetration into tumor with stiff stroma

Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 2;14(1):4628. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40300-2.

Abstract

Chemotherapy remains as the first-choice treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the limited tumor penetration and low cellular internalization efficiency of current nanocarrier-based systems impede the access of anticancer drugs to TNBC with dense stroma and thereby greatly restricts clinical therapeutic efficacy, especially for TNBC bone metastasis. In this work, biomimetic head/hollow tail nanorobots were designed through a site-selective superassembly strategy. We show that nanorobots enable efficient remodeling of the dense tumor stromal microenvironments (TSM) for deep tumor penetration. Furthermore, the self-movement ability and spiky head markedly promote interfacial cellular uptake efficacy, transvascular extravasation, and intratumoral penetration. These nanorobots, which integrate deep tumor penetration, active cellular internalization, near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive release, and photothermal therapy capacities into a single nanodevice efficiently suppress tumor growth in a bone metastasis female mouse model of TNBC and also demonstrate potent antitumor efficacy in three different subcutaneous tumor models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomimetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced*
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Phototherapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Tumor Microenvironment