Cancer cell-specific and pro-apoptotic SMAC peptide-doxorubicin conjugated prodrug encapsulated aposomes for synergistic cancer immunotherapy

Authors
Kim, JinseongShim, Man KyuMoon, YujeongKim, JeongraeCho, HanheeYun, Wan SuShim, NayeonSeong, Joon-KyungLee, YonghyunLim, Dong-KwonKim, Kwangmeyung
Issue Date
2024-03
Publisher
BioMed Central
Citation
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, v.22, no.1
Abstract
Background Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a crucial approach to turn immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) into immune-responsive milieu and improve the response rate of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, cancer cells show resistance to ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic drugs, and non-specific toxicity of those drugs against immune cells reduce the immunotherapy efficiency. Methods Herein, we propose cancer cell-specific and pro-apoptotic liposomes (Aposomes) encapsulating second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases mimetic peptide (SMAC-P)-doxorubicin (DOX) conjugated prodrug to potentiate combinational ICB therapy with ICD. The SMAC-P (AVPIAQ) with cathepsin B-cleavable peptide (FRRG) was directly conjugated to DOX, and the resulting SMAC-P-FRRG-DOX prodrug was encapsulated into PEGylated liposomes. Results The SMAC-P-FRRG-DOX encapsulated PEGylated liposomes (Aposomes) form a stable nanostructure with an average diameter of 109.1?±?5.14 nm and promote the apoptotic cell death mainly in cathepsin B-overexpressed cancer cells. Therefore, Aposomes induce a potent ICD in targeted cancer cells in synergy of SMAC-P with DOX in cultured cells. In colon tumor models, Aposomes efficiently accumulate in targeted tumor tissues via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and release the encapsulated prodrug of SMAC-P-FRRG-DOX, which is subsequently cleaved to SMAC-P and DOX in cancer cells. Importantly, the synergistic activity of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs)-inhibitory SMAC-P sensitizing the effects of DOX induces a potent ICD in the cancer cells to promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation and stimulate T cell proliferation and activation, turning ITM into immune-responsive milieu. Conclusions Eventually, the combination of Aposomes with anti-PD-L1 antibody results in a high rate of complete tumor regression (CR: 80%) and also prevent the tumor recurrence by immunological memory established during treatments.
Keywords
Aposomes; Cancer immunotherapy; Immune checkpoint blockade; PEGylated liposome; Immunogenic cell death; Drug resistance
ISSN
1477-3155
URI
https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/149488
DOI
10.1186/s12951-024-02314-w
Appears in Collections:
KIST Article > 2024
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Export
RIS (EndNote)
XLS (Excel)
XML

qrcode

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

BROWSE