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Biochemistry

Cancer Immunotherapy Breakthrough: Researchers Develop Nanoparticles that Reprogram Macrophages and Activate Tumor-Fighting Immunity

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering in Tianjin, China, has led to the development of nanoparticles that can reprogram tumor-associated macrophages to fight cancer. The study, published in Biomaterials Science, shows that the nanoparticles can induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells, activate dendritic cells, and initiate T cell-mediated immunity, leading to improved antitumor immuno-therapy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering have developed nanoparticles that can reprogram tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to fight cancer.
  • The nanoparticles, made of human serum albumin (HSA) and PEG/IL12-IA, consist of indocyanine green (ICG), arginine (Arg), and interleukin 12 (IL12).
  • The nanoparticles induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells, activate dendritic cells, and initiate T cell-mediated immunity.
  • The study demonstrates a promising cancer immunotherapy strategy that combines tumor reprogramming with phototherapy-induced immunogenic cell death.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Biomaterials Science.

Named individuals involved in the research:

  • Guilei Ma, Peking Union Med Coll & Chinese Acad Med Sci, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
  • Jinyang Zhang, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
  • Wenyue Gao, Institute for Biomedical Engineering

Organizations involved:

  • Institute for Biomedical Engineering
  • Royal Soc Chemistry
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Initiatives and programs:

  • Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterials
  • Key Lab Biomat & Nanotechnol Canc Immunotherapy
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
  • CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences

Statistics:

  • The researchers used 4T1-bearing mice to test the efficacy of the nanoparticles.
  • The nanoparticles inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival time, delayed lung metastasis, and improved antitumor immuno-therapy in 4T1-bearing mice.
  • The study demonstrates a combined therapeutic effect of tumor reprogramming and phototherapy-induced immunogenic cell death.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Research Conducted at Institute for Biomedical Engineering Has Updated Our Knowledge about Cancer (Il12-based Phototherapeutic Nanoparticles Through Remodeling Tumor-associated Macrophages Combined With Immunogenic Tumor Cell Death for ...). Cancer Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 1384.
  • Il12-based Phototherapeutic Nanoparticles Through Remodeling Tumor-associated Macrophages Combined With Immunogenic Tumor Cell Death for Synergistic Cancer Immunotherapy. Biomaterials Science, 2025.
  • Royal Society of Chemistry - www.rsc.org/
  • Biomaterials Science - pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journalissues/bm

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