Multifunctional nanocomposites utilizing ruthenium (II) complex/manganese (IV) dioxide nanoparticle for synergistic reinforcing radioimmunotherapy

• Published in: Journal of Nanobiotechnology
• Main Authors: Jian Peng, Dong-Ling Quan, Guang Yang, Lin-Tao Wei, Zhuan Yang, Zhi-Ying Dong, Yi-Ming Zou, Ying-Ke Hou, Jin-Xiang Chen, Lin Lv, Bin Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024-11-01
• Subjects: Radiosensitizer; Radioimmunotherapy; Ruthenium complex; MnO2; cGAS-STING
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-024-03013-2

Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) stands as a frontline treatment modality in clinical breast oncology, yet challenges like ROS reduction, high toxicity, non-selectivity, and hypoxia hinder efficacy. Additionally, RT administered at different doses can induce varying degrees of radioimmunotherapy. High doses of radiation (>10 Gy) may result in immune suppression, while moderate doses (4–10 Gy), although capable of mitigating the immune suppression caused by high-dose radiation, are often insufficient in effectively killing tumor cells. Therefore, enhancing the generation of ROS and ameliorating the tumor hypoxic immune-suppressive microenvironment at moderate radiation doses could potentially drive radiation-induced immune responses, offering a fundamental solution to the limitations of RT. In this study, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform, RMLF, integrating a Ru (II) complex into folate-functionalized liposomes with BSA-MnO2 nanoparticles was proposed. Orthogonal experimental optimization enhances radiosensitization via increasing accumulation in cancer cells, elevating ROS, and contributing to a dual enhancement of the cGAS-STING-dependent type I IFN signaling pathway, aimed to overcome the insufficient DAMPs typically seen in the conventional RT at 4 Gy. Such a strategy effectively activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes for infiltration into tumor tissues and promoted the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages from the M2 to M1 phenotype, substantially bolstering immune memory responses. This pioneering approach represents the first use of a ruthenium complex in radioimmunotherapy, activating the cGAS-STING pathway to amplify immune responses, overcome RT resistance, and extend immunotherapeutic potential.