Fig. 1: Light-activable immunological adjuvant (LIA) for improved in situ cancer vaccination.
From: An amphiphilic dendrimer as a light-activable immunological adjuvant for in situ cancer vaccination
The LIA is composed of a hypoxia-responsive amphiphilic dendrimer (HAD) nanoparticle, which is loaded with chlorin e6 (Ce6). After intravenous injection, the LIA accumulates at tumour sites and is then internalized by the cells. Upon near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, molecular oxygen is rapidly consumed and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce tumour cell lysis and tumour antigen release. In the meantime, the consumption of oxygen leads to a locally hypoxic microenvironment, which activates the ‘immunological adjuvant’-like effect of the dendrimer. This light-activable immunological adjuvant enhances a robust and safe immune response for in situ cancer vaccination.
