A magnetic resonance nanoprobe with STING activation character collaborates with platinum-based drug for enhanced tumor immunochemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Immunochemotherapy is a potent anti-tumor strategy, however, how to select therapeutic drugs to enhance the combined therapeutic effect still needs to be explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: Herein, a magnetic resonance nanoprobe (MnP@Lip) with STING (Stimulator of INterferon Genes) activation character was synthesized and co-administered with platinum-based chemotherapeutics for enhanced immunochemotherapy. MnP@Lip nanoparticles was prepared by simple fabrication process with good reproducibility, pH-sensitive drug release behavior and biocompatibility. In vitro experiments elucidated that Mn(2+) can promote the polarization of M0 and/or M2 macrophages to M1 phenotype, and promote the maturation of BMDC cells. Upon Mn(2+) treatment, the STING pathway was activated in tumor cells, mouse lung epithelial cells, and immune cells. More importantly, anti-tumor experiments in vivo proved that MnP@Lip combined with platinum-based chemotherapeutics increased T cells infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, and inhibited tumor growth in the orthotopic therapeutic and postoperative tumor models. CONCLUSIONS: This kind of therapeutic strategy that combined MnP@Lip nanoparticles with platinum-based chemotherapeutics may provide a novel insight for immunochemotherapy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01158-y.