Nat. Rev. Bioeng.: Biomaterials tools to modulate the tumour microenvironment in immunotherapy

The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a network surrounding tumour cells consisting of various cell types, stroma, blood vessels, secreted factors and an extracellular matrix (ECM). The rapid metabolism and proliferation of tumour cells contribute to the distinct features of the TME, including hypoxia, acidity and high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This harsh environment also affects the activities of pro-inflammatory immune cells, thereby facilitating tumour immune escape. On the other hand, leaky tumour vasculature with irregular architecture and the lack of a lymphatic system in the tumour tissue both limit infiltration of immune cells, in particular, effector T cells, into the tumour. Antitumour immune responses typically depend on the tumour-infiltration of immune cells, the interactions between immune cells and tumour cells, as well as regulation of immune cell phenotypes in the TME.

On January 25th, 2023, Prof. Liu Zhuang from the Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials of Soochow University, published an invited review paper entitled “Biomaterials tools to modulate the tumour microenvironment in immunotherapy” in Nature Reviews Bioengineering. In this review, the authors first introduced the composition and various characteristics of solid tumor microenvironment, as well as the interactions between TME and various immune cells. On this basis, they reviewed a series of biomaterial technologies developed in recent years to regulate the immunosuppressive TME, including tumor hypoxia relief, tumor acidity neutralization, depletion of extra intratumoral ROS, as well as opening of physical barriers for solid tumors, which have been demonstrated to be effective in promoting the efficacies of various types of cancer immunotherapy. The challenges in the clinical translation of TME-modulating biomaterials tools were further discussed in this review article.

Dr. Chao Yu, a postdoctoral fellow of Professor Liu Zhuang's research group, is the first author of the paper.

Fig. 1. The physicochemical features of the tumour microenvironment (including oxygen, pH and reaction oxygen species (ROS) levels) affect cancer cells and immune cells.

Link to article：https://www.nature.com//articles/s44222-022-00004-6

Title of article：Biomaterials tools to modulate the tumour microenvironment in immunotherapy

Authors：Yu Chao & Zhuang Liu*

Link to Prof. Liu's group: http://nano.suda.edu.cn/lz/main.htm

Editor: Guo Jia