journal article·2026-06-22Open access

Biomimetic Macrophage Cell Membrane‐Based Nanoparticles for Effective Treatment of Glioblastoma Through Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Combined With Immunotherapy

Jiawen Chen, Haoyu You, Hefa Huang, Huihui Chai, Ruize Zhu, Yun Guan, Qisheng Tang, Tianwen Li, Shan Jiang, Houshi Xu, Peng Wang, Yue Wang, Maoyuan Sun, Beining Liu, Zhen Li, Yulai Zeng, Weiqiu Ping, Yanlin Teng, Songlin Yan, Qinghui Li, Long Gu, Tao Sun, Zhifeng Shi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains largely incurable due to the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and immunosuppressive microenvironment. While boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) selectively eradicates tumor cells via 10 B(n, α)‐ 7 Li reactions, its clinical potential in GBM is unrealized because of the suboptimal pharmacokinetics of conventional boron agents and their failure to achieve therapeutic intracranial concentrations. Here, we design macrophage membrane‐coated PLGA nanoparticles (M@PLGA‐ 10 BN) that exploit innate biological transport mechanisms to overcome dual therapeutic barriers. The macrophage membrane enables: (i) α 4 β 1 integrin‐mediated BBB transmigration via VCAM‐1 binding, (ii) chemokine‐directed tumor tropism, and (iii) CD47‐dependent immune evasion. In orthotopic GL261 gliomas, M@PLGA‐ 10 BN delivers 53.15 µg/g 10 B to tumors – 3.09‐fold higher than uncoated nanoparticles – with tumor‐to‐normal/brain (T/N) and tumor‐to‐blood (T/B) ratios of 3.95 and 3.85, respectively. Neutron irradiation extends survival by 50 days and triggers immunogenic cell death, increasing tumor‐infiltrating CD8 + T cells 4.2‐fold while reducing regulatory T cells (Tregs) by 68%. Crucially, BNCT‐induced PD‐L1 upregulation provides a mechanistic basis for combining with anti‐PD‐1 immunotherapy, achieving complete tumor regression in 50% of mice. By concurrently overcoming the blood‐brain barrier and immunosuppression, this biomimetic strategy unlocks new clinical horizons for BNCT, establishing a new paradigm for treating CNS malignancies.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Boron Compounds in Chemistry · Boron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research · Organoboron and organosilicon chemistry

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

Affiliations

Department of Neurosurgery Huashan Hospital Fudan University Shanghai China

Neurosurgical Institute Fudan University Shanghai China

Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration Shanghai China

Department of Pharmaceutics School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery Ministry of Education State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders and MOE Frontiers Center For Brain Science Fudan University Shanghai China

School of Nuclear Science and Technology Lanzhou University Lanzhou China

Shanghai ImmunoBiotech Co., Ltd. Shanghai China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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