Monocytes loaded with pro-inflammatory drug-encapsulating particles for prolonged modulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Modulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) has become the key for successful cancer immunotherapy because the suppression interferes with an effective anti-tumor immunity. Among several means of TME modulation, introducing pro-inflammatory macrophages has gained attention for their role in secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Despite such anti-tumoral characteristics, macrophage-mediated modulation has been challenged by the lack of trafficking ability and immunosuppressive TME that forces anti-inflammatory repolarization. This study proposes a system of monocytes loaded with pro-inflammatory drug-encapsulating particles that modulates the immunosuppressive TME into the immunostimulatory environment. This system, benefiting from both active targeting of monocytes and continuous robustness against the pro-tumoral environment by optimized particles, is expected to create the immunostimulatory environment for effective cancer immunotherapy.