Macrophage-Mediated Liquid Metal Nanoparticles for Enhanced Tumor Accumulation and Inhibition

In most studies, the penetration of nanoparticles into tumors was mainly dependent on the enhanced permeability and retention (ERP) effect. However, the penetration of nanoparticles would be limited by tumor-dense structure, immune system, and other factors. To solve these problems, macrophages with active tropism to tumor tissues, loaded nanoparticles with photothermal therapy, and chemotherapy were designed. In detail, liquid metal (gallium indium alloy) nanoparticles were modified with mesoporous silica and then embedded with the chemotherapeutic drug sorafenib (LM@Si/SO) for photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. After that, the LM@Si/SO nanoparticles were carried by the mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cell line (LM@Si/SO@R) to increase the accumulation of the nanoparticles in the tumor site and improve the tumor immune microenvironment. With the enhanced tumor accumulation, LM@Si/SO@R exhibited excellent antitumor ability in vitro and in vivo. Thus, these strategies via the cell carrier to enhance tumor therapeutic efficiency had the potential for the improvement of tumor therapy.