Issue 15, 2024

Macrophage-modulating nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial roles in the immunosuppressive solid tumor microenvironment (TME). Despite their tumor-promoting functions, TAMs can also be therapeutically modulated to exhibit tumor-killing properties, making them attractive targets for tumor immunotherapy. This review highlights the recent advances in nanomedicine-based strategies centered around macrophages for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Emerging nanomedicine-based strategies to modulate TAMs in cancer treatment include repolarization of the TAM phenotype, inhibition of monocyte recruitment, depletion of TAMs, and blockage of immune checkpoints. These strategies have shown great promise in significantly improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, macrophage-inspired drug delivery systems have demonstrated significant promise in inducing immunotherapeutic effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy by facilitating evasion from the reticuloendothelial system and promoting accumulation at the tumor site. Finally, we also discuss the challenges and propose future opportunities associated with macrophage-modulating nanomedicine to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

Graphical abstract: Macrophage-modulating nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy

Article information

Article type
Minireview
Submitted
12 dec 2023
Accepted
05 mar 2024
First published
05 mar 2024

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 7378-7386

Macrophage-modulating nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy

M. M. Khan, Y. Li, Z. Zhou, A. Ni, Q. Saiding, D. Qin, W. Tao and W. Chen, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 7378 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR06333J

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