Synergistic immunotherapy with a calcium-based nanoinducer: evoking pyroptosis and remodeling tumor-associated macrophages for enhanced antitumor immune response

Abstract

The challenges posed by low immunogenicity and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly hinder the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Pyroptosis, characterized as a pro-inflammatory cell death pathway, emerges as a promising approach to augment immunotherapy by promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD). The predominance of M2 phenotype tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME underscores the critical need for TAM reprogramming to mitigate this immunosuppression. Herein, we introduce a calcium-based, intelligent-responsive nanoinducer (CaZCH NPs), designed to concurrently initiate pyroptosis and remodel TAMs, thereby amplifying antitumor immunotherapy effects. Modified with hyaluronic acid, CaZCH NPs can target tumor cells. Once internalized, CaZCH NPs respond to the acidic environment, releasing Ca²⁺, curcumin and H₂O₂ to induce mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload and oxidation stress, leading to caspase-3/GSDME-mediated cell pyroptosis. Concurrently, O₂ produced by CaZCH and pro-inflammatory cytokines from pyroptotic cells work together to shift TAM polarization towards the M1 phenotype, effectively countering TME's immunosuppressive effect. Notably, the synergistic effect of Ca²⁺-mediated pyroptosis and TAM remodeling demonstrates superior antitumor efficiency in colorectal cancer models. The induced ICD, coupled with M1-type TAMs, effectively enhances immunogenicity and mitigates immunosuppression, promoting dendritic cell maturation and activating CD8⁺ T cell-dependent systemic antitumor immunity. Our study presents a promising synergistic strategy for achieving highly efficient immunotherapy using a simple calcium-based nanoinducer.