Prodrug-loaded semiconducting polymer hydrogels for deep-tissue sono-immunotherapy of orthotopic glioblastoma

Biomater Sci. 2023 Oct 10;11(20):6823-6833. doi: 10.1039/d3bm00585b.

Abstract

Although immunotherapy has achieved great success in the treatment of a variety of tumors, its efficacy for glioblastoma (GBM) is still limited. Both the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and poor penetration of immunotherapeutic agents into tumors contributed to the poor anti-glioma immunity. Herein, we develop an injectable prodrug-loaded hydrogel delivery system with sono-activatable properties for sonodynamic therapy (SDT)-triggered immunomodulation for GBM treatment. The prodrug alginate hydrogels (APN), which contain semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) and the NLG919 prodrug linked by singlet oxygen (1O2)-cleavable linkers, are in situ formed via coordination of alginate solution with Ca2+ in the TME. SPNs serve as sonosensitizers to produce 1O2 upon ultrasound (US) irradiation for SDT. The generated 1O2 not only induce immunogenic cell death, but also break 1O2-cleavable linkers to precisely activate the NLG919 prodrug. Antitumor immunity is significantly amplified due to the reversal of immunosuppression mediated by indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase-dependent tryptophan metabolism. This smart prodrug hydrogel platform potently inhibits tumor growth in orthotopic glioma-bearing mice. Collectively, this work provides a sono-activatable hydrogel platform for precise sono-immunotherapy against GBM.

MeSH terms

  • Alginates
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glioblastoma* / drug therapy
  • Glioma*
  • Hydrogels
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Polymers
  • Prodrugs* / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs* / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Prodrugs
  • Polymers
  • Alginates
  • Hydrogels