journal article·2026-01

Stiffening the Soft Tumor: Biosilicification‐Enabled Mechanical Immune Checkpoint Blockade Sono‐Immunotherapy

Yuqi Zhang, Yun Chen, Muyuyang Lin, Junxian Yang, Jiangfan Cao, Anting Tan, Tongyi Shang, Yi Ge, Qi Lei, Qing Ouyang, Wei Zhu

Small· Volume 22· Issue 2
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy by reinvigorating anti‐tumor immunity, while only a small proportion of patients derive benefit from this therapy, with many still facing tumor evasion. As cancer cells exploit cellular softness as a mechanical immune checkpoint to evade immune recognition, pioneering interventions to implement mechanical immune checkpoint blockade (MICB) hold significant promise in enhancing patient outcomes. Here, an innovative strategy is presented to achieve effective MICB sono‐immunotherapy by leveraging the synergistic interplay between in situ biosilicification and sonodynamic therapy (SDT). This approach regulates tumor stiffness to block mechanical immune checkpoints, thereby enhancing T‐cell force and cytotoxicity. The combination of a haematoporphyrin‐silane conjugate, which serves as a sonosensitizer to induce immunogenic tumor cell death, further promotes T‐cell infiltration. More importantly, the in situ biosilicification counteracts the reduction in cortical stiffness caused by SDT, thereby preventing tumor evasion, while also suppressing SDT‐induced exosome secretion to inhibit metastasis. This method offers a novel and versatile alternative to expensive and unstable antibodies, serving as a promising complement to current ICB therapies. It establishes a MICB‐based sono‐immunotherapy approach with potential relevance for future clinical applications.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Cancer Research and Treatments · Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines School of Biology and Biological Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P. R. China

School of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Nanyang Technological University 21 Nanyang Link Singapore 637371 Singapore

The Second Affiliated Hospital Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 P. R. China

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplant Center PLA General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command: People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command Guangzhou 510010 P. R. China

Funding

Guangdong Provincial Pearl River Talents Program

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