journal article·2026-04

Cage‐Like Nanodrug Potentiates Tumor Immunotherapy by Orchestrating Endoplasmic Reticulum–Mitochondrial Crosstalk

Mofan Xiao, Junmin Qian, Huichen Zhao, Xinyu Li, Chenyang Liu, Jingjing Fan, Yuhan Li, Weijun Xu, Yaping Wang, Jinlei Wang, Xiaobing Chen, Aili Suo

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 36· Issue 32
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ion homeostasis disruption offers potential for antitumor immunity, but its therapeutic efficacy remains unsatisfactory owing to the difficulty in eliciting robust immunogenicity and the ambiguous underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we present a tumor‐targeted cage‐like nanodrug (CuCa‐EB‐H), hyaluronan‐decorated proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ)/copper ionophore elesclomol (ES)‐loaded copper‐calcium bimetallic nanocages, for unlocking the mechanisms of orchestrating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction to induce antitumor immunity. Specifically, BTZ and exogenous Ca 2 ⁺ overload provoke ER stress, which not only induces the transposition of ER calreticulin on the cell surface but also triggers massive endogenous Ca 2+ efflux and transmission into mitochondria to aggravate mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload. Synchronously, ES mediates the targeting delivery and accumulation of Cu 2+ in mitochondria to induce cuproptosis, which further exacerbates mitochondrial injury and promotes mtDNA release, thus activating the cGAS–STING pathway and ensuing ER stress‐mediated antitumor immunity. Furthermore, cuproptosis synergizes with these processes to amplify damage‐associated molecular patterns release, manifesting robust immunogenic effect. Collectively, the CuCa‐EB‐H nanodrug establishes a reciprocal ER stress‐mitochondrial dysfunction‐STING activation self‐reinforcing cascade that markedly stimulates dendritic cell maturation, increases effector T cell infiltration, and reverses immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This study provides mechanistic insights into ion interference immunotherapy and a promising strategy to strengthen immune checkpoint therapy.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: interferon and immune responses · Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Protein Degradation and Inhibitors

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

Affiliations

Department of Oncology The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an Shaanxi China

State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior of Materials Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an Shaanxi China

School of Clinical Medicine Xi'an Medical University Xi'an Shaanxi China

Department of Oncology The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital Zhengzhou Henan China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province

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