Synergistic combination of targeted nano-nuclear-reactors and anti-PD-L1 nanobodies evokes persistent T cell immune activation for cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND: Antitumor T cell immunotherapy as a novel cancer therapeutic strategy has shown enormous promise. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by the low immunogenicity, hypoxia, and immunosuppressive condition that dramatically limit effective T cell immunotherapy. Thus, an ideal immunotherapy strategy that is capable of reversing the immunosuppressive TME is highly imperative. RESULTS: In this article, we reported that Fe-doped and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded HA@Cu(2−X)S-PEG (PHCN) nanomaterials were rationally designed as targeted Fe-PHCN@DOX nano-nuclear-reactors, which evoked persistent T cell immune response together with anti-PD-L1 nanobodies. It was confirmed that nano-nuclear-reactors displayed strong nanocatalytic effect for effective antitumor effects. Consequently, they maximized the immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect for antigen presentation and then stimulated T cell activation. In addition, Fe-PHCN@DOX could reprogram M2-phenotype tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into M1-phenotype TAMs by relieving tumor hypoxia. Meanwhile, blockade of the anti-PD-L1 nanobody promoted T cell activation through targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppressive pathway. Notably, in vivo tumor therapy verified that this nano-nuclear-reactor could be used as an excellent immunotherapy nanoplatform for tumor eradication and metastasis prevention with nanobody. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that nano-nuclear-reactors in combination with nanobody could evoke persistent T cell immune activation, suggesting them potential as a promising immunotherapy option for reversing immunosuppressive immune-cold tumors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01736-8.