Fabrication of methylene blue-loaded ovalbumin/polypyrrole nanoparticles for enhanced phototherapy-triggered antitumour immune activation

• Published in: Journal of nanobiotechnology Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 1 - 15
• Main Authors: Xu, Xiao, Mao, Huafen, Wu, Yunchao, Liu, Suwan, Liu, Jingjin, Li, Qianzhe, Yang, Mengyu, Zhu, Jinqian, Zou, Shengqiang, Du, Fengyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 22.06.2022; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Ablation; Analysis; Antigen presentation; Antigens; Apoptosis; Aqueous solutions; Biocompatibility; Biotechnology; Cell activation; Cell death; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cytoplasm; Cytotoxicity; Damage patterns; Fabrication; Fourier transforms; Health aspects; Hemodialysis; Hyperthermia; Immune response; Immune system; Immunogenicity; Immunotherapy; Irradiation; Laser therapy; Lasers; Light therapy; Lysosomes; Methods; Methylene blue; Mitochondria; Molecular Medicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Ovalbumin; Particle size; Patient outcomes; Phototherapy; Photothermal conversion; Polypyrrole nanoparticles; Polypyrroles; Polyvinyl alcohol; Reactive oxygen species; Solid tumors; Spectrum analysis; Tumors; China; Polypyrrole nanoparticles; Laser therapy; Immunotherapy; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 1477-3155; 1477-3155
• DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01507-5

Background Phototherapy-triggered immunogenic cell death (ICD) rarely elicits a robust antitumour immune response, partially due to low antigen exposure and inefficient antigen presentation. To address these issues, we developed novel methylene blue-loaded ovalbumin/polypyrrole nanoparticles (MB@OVA/PPY NPs) via oxidative polymerization and π–π stacking interactions. Results The as-prepared MB@OVA/PPY NPs with outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency (38%) and photodynamic properties were readily internalized into the cytoplasm and accumulated in the lysosomes and mitochondria. Upon 808 nm and 660 nm laser irradiation, the MB@OVA/PPY NPs not only ablated tumour cells by inducing local hyperthermia but also damaged residual tumour cells by generating a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), finally triggering the release of many damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Moreover, the MB@OVA/PPY NPs synergized with DAMPs to promote the maturation and improve the antigen presentation ability of DCs in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions This work reported a PPY NPs-based nanoplatform to encapsulate the therepeutic proteins and absorb the functional molecules for combination therapy of tumours. The results demonstrated that the prepared MB@OVA/PPY NPs could be used as effective nanotherapeutic agents to eliminate solid tumours and trigger a powerful antitumour immune response.