Reactive oxygen species/glutathione dual sensitive nanoparticles with encapsulation of miR155 and curcumin for synergized cancer immunotherapy

Abstract Considerable attention has been directed towards exploring the potential efficacy of miR-155 in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. Elevated levels of miR-155 in dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to enhance their maturation, migration, cytokine secretion, and their ability to promote T cell activation. In addition, overexpression of mir155 in M2 macrophages boost the polarization towards the M1 phenotype. Conversely, miR-155 has the propensity to induce the accumulation of immunosuppressive cells like regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor tissue. To account for this discrepancy, it is imperative to get help from a drug that could deal with immunosuppressive effect. Curcumin (CUR) exhibits the capacity to prompt Tregs converse into T helper 1 cells, fostering the polarization of M2 tumor-associated macrophage towards the M1 phenotype, and impeding the recruitment and aggregation of MDSCs within the tumor microenvironment. Nonetheless, CUR is known to exert an immunosuppressive impact on DCs by hindering the expression of maturation markers, cytokines, and chemokines, thereby prevent DCs response to immunostimulatory agents. Hence, a reactive oxygen species/glutathione dual responsive drug conveyance platform (CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs) was devised to co-deliver CUR and miR155, with the aim of exploring their synergistic potential in bolstering a sustained and robust anti-tumor immune response. In vitro and in vivo results have suggested that CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs can effectively inhibit the viability of 4T1 and B16F10 tumor cells, trigger the release of damage associated molecular patterns, stimulate DCs maturation, subsequent activation of CD8 + T cells, diminish immunosuppressive cell populations (MDSCs, Tregs, M2 TAMs and exhausted T cells), promote the formation of long-term immunity and lessen the formation of metastatic nodules in the lungs. In summary, the co-delivery system integrating CUR and miR155 (CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs) demonstrates promise as a promising strategy for the immunotherapy of melanoma and triple negative breast cancer. Graphical abstract