Vitamin C supramolecular hydrogel for enhanced cancer immunotherapy

  • Biomaterials. 2022 Aug:287:121673. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121673.
Han Zhang  1 ,  Kai Liu  2 ,  Yimou Gong  1 ,  Wenjun Zhu  1 ,  Jiafei Zhu  1 ,  Feng Pan  3 ,  Yu Chao  1 ,  Zhishen Xiao  1 ,  Yanbin Liu  1 ,  Xianwen Wang  1 ,  Zhuang Liu  1 ,  Yang Yang  4 ,  Qian Chen  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
  • 2. Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
  • 3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
  • 4. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5. Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 35839587 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121673
Abstract

Vitamin C (VitC) has shown great promise to promote Cancer Immunotherapy, however, its high hydrophilicity makes it quickly excreted, leading to limited therapeutic efficiency even with frequent high-dose administration. Herein, we provide a pioneering report about the employment of VitC amphiphile self-assembled nanofiber hydrogels for enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy. Specifically, driven by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, the synthesized VitC amphiphile, consisting of a hydrophilic VitC headgroup and a hydrophobic alkyl chain, could self-assemble into an injectable nanofiber hydrogel with self-healing properties. The formed VitC hydrogel not only serves as a reservoir for VitC but also acts as an effective delivery platform for stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist-4 (SA). Interestingly, the VitC hydrogel itself exhibits antitumor effects by upregulating genes related to interferon (IFN) signaling, apoptotic signaling and viral recognition and defense. Moreover, the SA-encapsulated VitC hydrogel (SA@VitC hydrogel) synergistically activated the immune system to inhibit the progression of both local and abscopal tumors.

Keywords
Cancer immunotherapy; Drug delivery; Self-assembly; Supramolecular hydrogel; Vitamin C.
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