Introduction：

Different from conventional cancer therapies to directly destruct tumor cells, cancer immunotherapy would train and utilize the patient’s own immune system to find and attack tumor cells. In our laboratory, we have developed cancer nano-vaccines based on biomaterials and nanotechnology. Based on rationally designed biomaterials, we were able to use local tumor treatment techniques to trigger robust antitumor immune responses in combination with cancer immunotherapy (e.g. checkpoint blockade), to inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.

Specific projects:

- Nano-vaccines based on biomaterials
- Biomaterials to boost systemic immunotherapy after local tumor treatment: ‘Cock-tail immunotherapy’
- Nanoscale delivery systems for immunomodulation
- Biomaterials and immunoengineering for regenerative medicine

Selected Papers：

[10] Yu Chao, Ligeng Xu, Chao Liang, Liangzhu Feng, Jun Xu, Ziliang Dong, Longlong Tian, Xuan Yi, Kai Yang*, Zhuang Liu* “Combined local immunostimulatory radioisotope therapy and systemic immune checkpoint blockade imparts potent antitumour responses in multiple animal models” Nat. Biomed. Eng. DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0262-6 (2018)
[9] Qin Fan, Zhipeng Chen, Chao Wang* and Zhuang Liu*. Toward Biomaterials for Enhancing Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy Adv. Funct. Mater., DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201802540 (2018)
[8] Guangbao Yang , Ligeng Xu, Jun Xu, Rui Zhang, Guosheng Song, Yu Chao, Liangzhu Feng, Fengxuan Han, Ziliang Dong, Bin Li* , and Zhuang Liu*. “Smart Nanoreactors for pH-Responsive Tumor Homing, Mitochondria-Targeting, and Enhanced Photodynamic-Immunotherapy of Cancer” Nano Lett., 18 (4), 2475–2484 (2018)
[7] Guangbao Yang, Ligeng Xu, Yu Chao, Jun Xu, Xiaoqi Sun, Yifan Wu, Rui Peng, and Zhuang Liu*. “Hollow MnO2 as A Tumor-microenvironment-responsive Biodegradable Nano-platform for Combination Therapy Favoring Antitumor Immune Responses” Nat. Commun., 8, 902 (2017)
[6] Xiaoqi Sun, Xiao Han, Ligeng Xu, Min Gao, Jun Xu, Rong Yang, and Zhuang Liu*. “Surface-Engineering of Red Blood Cells as Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells Promising for Cancer Immunotherapy” Small, 13(40), 1701864 (2017)
[5] Jun Xu, Ligeng Xu*, Chenya Wang, Rong Yang, Qi Zhuang, Xiao Han, Ziliang Dong, Wenwen Zhu, Rui Peng*, and Zhuang Liu*. “Near-Infrared-Triggered Photodynamic Therapy with Multitasking Upconversion Nanoparticles in Combination with Checkpoint Blockade for Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer” ACS Nano, 11(5), 4463-4474 (2017)
[4] Qian Chen, Ligeng Xu, ChaoLiang, Chao Wang, Rui Peng, and Zhuang Liu*. “Photothermal Therapy with Immune-adjuvant Nanoparticles Together with Checkpoint Blockade for Effective Cancer Immunotherapy” Nat. Commun., 7, 13193 (2016)
[3] Chao Liang, Ligeng Xu, Guosheng Song, and Zhuang Liu*. “Emerging Nanomedicine Approaches Fighting Tumor Metastasis: Animal Models, Metastasis-Targeted Drug Delivery, Phototherapy, and Immunotherapy” Chem. Soc. Rev., 45,6250-6269 (2016)
[2]  Jian Xiang, Ligeng Xu*, Hua Gong, Wenwen Zhu, Chao Wang, Jun Xu, Liangzhu Feng, Liang Cheng, Rui Peng*, and Zhuang Liu*. “Antigen-Loaded Upconversion Nanoparticles for Dendritic Cell Stimulation, Tracking, and Vaccination in Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy” ACS Nano, 9, 6401-6411 (2015)
[1] Chao Wang, Ligeng Xu, Chao Liang, Jian Xiang, Rui Peng, and Zhuang Liu*. “Immunological Responses Triggered by Photothermal Therapy with Carbon Nanotubes in Combination with Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy to Inhibit Cancer Metastasis” Adv. Mater., 26, 8154-8162 (2014)