scholarly journals Immunotherapy for cancer: effects of iron oxide nanoparticles on polarization of tumor-associated macrophages

Nanomedicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Sales Nascimento ◽  
Érica Alessandra Rocha Alves ◽  
Celso Pinto de Melo ◽  
Rodrigo Corrêa-Oliveira ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Calzavara-Silva

Cancer immunotherapy is the most promising trend in oncology, focusing on helping or activating the patient's immune system to identify and fight against cancer. In the last decade, interest in metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages from M2-like phenotype (promoting tumor progression) to M1-like phenotypes (suppressing tumor growth) as a therapeutic strategy against cancer has increased considerably. Iron metabolism has been standing out as a target for the reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages to M1-like phenotype with therapeutic purposes against cancer. Due to the importance of the iron levels in macrophage polarization states, iron oxide nanoparticles can be used to change the activation state of tumor-associated macrophages for a tumor suppressor phenotype and as an anti-tumor strategy.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1950
Author(s):  
Rossella Canese ◽  
Federica Vurro ◽  
Pasquina Marzola

Starting from the mid-1990s, several iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were developed as MRI contrast agents. Since their sizes fall in the tenths of a nanometer range, after i.v. injection these NPs are preferentially captured by the reticuloendothelial system of the liver. They have therefore been proposed as liver-specific contrast agents. Even though their unfavorable cost/benefit ratio has led to their withdrawal from the market, innovative applications have recently prompted a renewal of interest in these NPs. One important and innovative application is as diagnostic agents in cancer immunotherapy, thanks to their ability to track tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in vivo. It is worth noting that iron oxide NPs may also have a therapeutic role, given their ability to alter macrophage polarization. This review is devoted to the most recent advances in applications of iron oxide NPs in tumor diagnosis and therapy. The intrinsic therapeutic effect of these NPs on tumor growth, their capability to alter macrophage polarization and their diagnostic potential are examined. Innovative strategies for NP-based drug delivery in tumors (e.g., magnetic resonance targeting) will also be described. Finally, the review looks at their role as tracers for innovative, and very promising, imaging techniques (magnetic particle imaging-MPI).


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13346
Author(s):  
Zi-Xian Liao ◽  
Da-Liang Ou ◽  
Ming-Jung Hsieh ◽  
Chia-Chen Hsieh

Metabolic reprogramming of tumors with the accompanying reprogramming of glucose metabolism and production of lactate accumulation is required for the subsequent development of tumors. Recent evidence has indicated that tumor-secreted lactate can promote an oncolytic immune microenvironment within the tumor. Furthermore, tumor-secreted lactate directly induces polarization of tumor-supportive M2 macrophages. However, oxidized tumor-secreted lactate in the tumor microenvironment can be exploited. Iron oxide nanoparticles have shown promising anticancer potential by activating tumor-suppressing macrophages. Furthermore, lactate oxidase (LOX) generally oxidizes tumor-secreted lactate and subsequently converts to pyruvate. Particularly, the ratio of M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages corresponds with tumor growth. In this study, we present iron oxide nanoparticles with carboxylic acid combined with LOX that enhance antitumor efficacy as a synergistic effect on the repolarization of tumor-supportive M2 macrophages to tumor-suppressive M1 macrophages in a tumor microenvironment. After M2 macrophages treated with iron oxide nanoparticles were combined with LOX, the ratio of M1 macrophages was significantly greater than iron oxide nanoparticles alone or with LOX alone. It is concluded that the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by ratio of M1 macrophages was observed. This study suggests that the iron oxide nanoparticles combined with LOX could be potentially used for potentiating immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies for cancer treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 986-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Zanganeh ◽  
Gregor Hutter ◽  
Ryan Spitler ◽  
Olga Lenkov ◽  
Morteza Mahmoudi ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 5695-5704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heike E. Daldrup-Link ◽  
Daniel Golovko ◽  
Brian Ruffell ◽  
David G. DeNardo ◽  
Rosalinda Castaneda ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Geppert ◽  
Martin Himly

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) bear big hopes in nanomedicine due to their (potential) applications in tumor therapy, drug delivery or bioimaging. However, as foreign entities, such particles may be recognized by the immune system and, thus, lead to inflammation, hypersensitivity or anaphylactic shock. In addition, an overload with iron is known to cause oxidative stress. In this short review, we summarize the biological effects of such particles with a major focus on IONP-formulations used for bioimaging purposes and their effects on the human immune system. We conclude that especially the characteristics of the particles (size, shape, surface charge, coating, etc.) as well as the presence of bystander substances, such as bacterial endotoxin are important factors determining the resulting biological and immunological effects of IONPs. Further studies are needed in order to establish clear structure-activity relationships.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Mulens-Arias ◽  
José Manuel Rojas ◽  
Domingo F. Barber

The synthesis and functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is versatile, which has enhanced the interest in studying them as theranostic agents over recent years. As IONPs begin to be used for different biomedical applications, it is important to know how they affect the immune system and its different cell types, especially their interaction with the macrophages that are involved in their clearance. How immune cells respond to therapeutic interventions can condition the systemic and local tissue response, and hence, the final therapeutic outcome. Thus, it is fundamental to understand the effects that IONPs have on the immune response, especially in cancer immunotherapy. The biological effects of IONPs may be the result of intrinsic features of their iron oxide core, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulating intracellular redox and iron metabolism. Alternatively, their effects are driven by the nanoparticle coating, for example, through cell membrane receptor engagement. Indeed, exploiting these properties of IONPs could lead to the development of innovative therapies. In this review, after a presentation of the elements that make up the tumor immunological microenvironment, we will review and discuss what is currently known about the immunomodulatory mechanisms triggered by IONPs, mainly focusing on macrophage polarization and reprogramming. Consequently, we will discuss the implications of these findings in the context of plausible therapeutic scenarios for cancer immunotherapy.


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