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. 2023 Jul 11;14:1195572. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1195572

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Nanoparticles by activating inflammasomes enhance antitumor immunity. (A) The nanotransformer-based vaccine (NTV) is composed of a polymer–peptide conjugate-based nanotransformer (NT) loaded with antigenic peptide (AP). The NTV has a spherical morphology with a diameter of about 100 nm at pH 7.4. (B) After the NTV is internalized by DCs, the acidic endosomal environment (pH 5.6) will trigger fast cleavage of the pyrene-conjugated D-peptide (PDP), which will then re-assemble into nanosheets with sizes in the range 5–8 μm. The morphological change leads to disruption of the endosomal membrane and delivery of AP into the cytosol. Moreover, the cytoplasmic nanosheets activate the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, which promotes DC maturation and antigen processing. These two features contribute to the enhanced cross-presentation of AP to CD8+ T-cells and efficient antitumor immunity. (C) Diagram showing the interaction of chiral NPs with extracellular chiral chains of EGF-like domains on cellular AGPCR receptors. (D) The mechanism of induction of immune responses by chiral NPs. The figures A and B are reprinted with permission from Ref (83). Copyright John Wiley & Sons Inc. The figures C and D are reprinted with permission from Ref (82). Copyright Nature Publishing Group.