A pH/ROS dual-responsive system for effective chemoimmunotherapy against melanoma via remodeling tumor immune microenvironment

Chemotherapeutics can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells, offering new possibilities for cancer therapy. However, the efficiency of the immune response generated is insufficient due to the inhibitory nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we developed a pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-response system to enhance chemoimmunotherapy for melanoma. The system productively accumulated in tumors by specific binding of phenylboronic acid (PBA) to sialic acids (SA). The nanoparticles (NPs) rapidly swelled and released quercetin (QUE) and doxorubicin (DOX) upon the stimulation of tumor microenvironment (TME). The in vitro and in vivo results consistently demonstrated that the NPs improved anti-tumor efficacy and prolonged survival of mice, significantly enhancing the effects of the combination. Our study revealed DOX was an ICD inducer, stimulating immune responses and promoting maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Additionally, QUE served as a TME regulator by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2)-prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) axis, which influenced various immune cells, including increasing cytotoxic T cells (CLTs) infiltration, promoting M1 macrophage polarization, and reducing regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltration. The combination synergistically facilitated chemoimmunotherapy efficacy by remodeling the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This work presents a promising strategy to increase anti-tumor efficiency of chemotherapeutic agents.