journal article·2025-07

Remodeling Tumor Metabolism via Self‐Amplifying Energy‐Depleting Nanocomplexes for Effective Photodynamic‐Immunotherapy

Liu Yu, Wen Li, Jiahui Cao, Rourou Miao, Yiqiu Fu, Xinyi Wang, Juntao Xie, Wen Zhang, Zhuo Mao, Hanjie Zhang, Yushi Zhang, Meitong Ou, Lin Mei

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 28
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract The abnormal metabolism of tumor cells fulfills their high energy demands for rapid growth while simultaneously reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), which suppresses immune cell function and facilitates immune evasion. Herein, a peptide‐based nanocomplex (DCK@siGLUT1) that synergizes with photodynamic therapy (PDT) to disrupt tumor cell energy metabolism is developed. DCK@siGLUT1, utilizing a mitochondria‐targeting peptide (dKLA) selectively accumulates in mitochondria, where it impairs mitochondrial membrane integrity, disrupts energy metabolism, and induces apoptosis. Upon apoptosis, activated caspase‐3 (Casp3) cleaves DCK@siGLUT1, releasing siGLUT1 to silence glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression, which further inhibits glucose uptake and intensifies metabolic collapse, thereby amplifying apoptotic effects. Moreover, Ce6, conjugated to dKLA, is co‐delivered to the mitochondria and, upon light activation, exacerbates mitochondrial damage and metabolic disruption. These combined mechanisms intensify oxidative stress and apoptosis, further activate Casp3, and promote DCK@siGLUT1 cleavage, thereby driving a self‐amplifying tumoricidal cascade. Furthermore, DCK@siGLUT1 effectively induces immunogenic cell death (ICD), triggers antitumor immune responses, and inhibits both primary and distant tumor growth and metastasis. This strategy offers a novel approach for targeting tumor energy metabolism in antitumor immunotherapy.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies · Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism

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

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials Institute of Biomedical Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin 300192 P. R. China

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine Institute of Radiation Medicine Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin 300192 P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · National Key Research and Development Program of China · Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin Municipality

References (53)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1038/s44222-022-00004-610.1038/s44222-022-00004-6 ↗
2. 10.1038/s41568-021-00378-610.1038/s41568-021-00378-6 ↗
3. 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.07.00610.1016/j.cmet.2023.07.006 ↗
4. 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-105910.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-1059 ↗
5. 10.1038/s41565-020-00843-710.1038/s41565-020-00843-7 ↗
6. 10.1038/s41467-021-23194-w10.1038/s41467-021-23194-w ↗
7. Tang R. · Cell Rep. Med. · 2023 · 4
8. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.01.02510.1016/j.jconrel.2022.01.025 ↗
9. 10.1038/s41556-018-0124-110.1038/s41556-018-0124-1 ↗
10. 10.1126/sciadv.adf952210.1126/sciadv.adf9522 ↗
11. 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.02.01110.1016/j.molcel.2016.02.011 ↗
12. 10.1002/anie.20201223710.1002/anie.202012237 ↗
13. 10.1002/anie.20191582610.1002/anie.201915826 ↗
14. Baldwin J. G. · Cell · 2024 · 0
15. 10.1182/blood.202000793210.1182/blood.2020007932 ↗
16. 10.1126/scisignal.aas877910.1126/scisignal.aas8779 ↗
17. 10.1038/s41577-024-01026-410.1038/s41577-024-01026-4 ↗
18. Li Y. · Cell Rep. Med. · 2023 · 4
19. 10.1038/nature1330610.1038/nature13306 ↗
20. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.02510.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.025 ↗
21. 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01952-910.1016/S0140-6736(23)01952-9 ↗
22. 10.7785/tcrt.2012.50041210.7785/tcrt.2012.500412 ↗
23. 10.1038/s41467-020-18020-810.1038/s41467-020-18020-8 ↗
24. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15247910.1016/j.cej.2024.152479 ↗
25. 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.07.00110.1016/j.cmet.2023.07.001 ↗
26. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.17417810.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174178 ↗
27. 10.1038/s41576-021-00439-410.1038/s41576-021-00439-4 ↗
28. 10.7150/thno.4895410.7150/thno.48954 ↗
29. 10.3389/fonc.2021.66538810.3389/fonc.2021.665388 ↗
30. 10.7150/jca.7216110.7150/jca.72161 ↗
31. 10.1002/adfm.20190379110.1002/adfm.201903791 ↗
32. 10.1016/j.ejps.2018.11.02310.1016/j.ejps.2018.11.023 ↗
33. 10.1016/j.cell.2005.02.00110.1016/j.cell.2005.02.001 ↗
34. 10.1038/s41467-021-22594-210.1038/s41467-021-22594-2 ↗
35. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.02.01510.1016/j.jconrel.2023.02.015 ↗
36. 10.1002/adfm.20230332810.1002/adfm.202303328 ↗
37. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.10.01210.1016/j.jconrel.2021.10.012 ↗
38. 10.1038/s41573-024-00920-910.1038/s41573-024-00920-9 ↗
39. 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b0040310.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00403 ↗
40. 10.1021/jacs.1c0974110.1021/jacs.1c09741 ↗
41. 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b0004110.1021/acs.biomac.6b00041 ↗
42. 10.1007/s10989-020-10019-510.1007/s10989-020-10019-5 ↗
43. 10.1007/s12274-023-5912-710.1007/s12274-023-5912-7 ↗
44. 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.05.02010.1016/j.immuni.2019.05.020 ↗
45. 10.1007/s12274-021-3948-010.1007/s12274-021-3948-0 ↗
46. 10.1016/j.biopha.2015.07.02510.1016/j.biopha.2015.07.025 ↗
47. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.12150310.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121503 ↗
48. 10.1038/s41590-022-01132-210.1038/s41590-022-01132-2 ↗
49. 10.1038/nri.2017.910.1038/nri.2017.9 ↗
50. 10.1038/nrc338010.1038/nrc3380 ↗
51. 10.1021/jacs.2c1298610.1021/jacs.2c12986 ↗
52. 10.1002/adma.20130058310.1002/adma.201300583 ↗
53. 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.10024610.1016/j.xpro.2020.100246 ↗