Fig. 5.

Immunotherapy combined with nanomedicine. (A) Target tumor cells and induce immunogenic cell death. Nanomedicine encapsulating photosensitizers can target and enter tumor cells through enhanced permeability and retention effect of tumors, and then release therapeutic cargoes, triggering the translocation of calcium reticulum protein to the tumor cell membrane. The synergistic effect with reactive oxygen species produced by photosensitizers leads to cell death in tumors [147]. CRT, calcium reticulum protein; ROS, reactive oxygen species. (b) Target the TME. Nanomedicine coupled TLR agonist can induce DC maturation and prolong the duration of antigen presentation. In addition, the designed nanomedicine can affect the function of TAMs and manipulate TAMs to repolarize into M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype, producing TNF-α and iNOS [151]. iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase. (C) Target the peripheral immune system. Nanomedicine can encapsulate genes encoding CAR or TCR, which can selectively bind to CD8⁺ T cells in circulating blood, initiating receptor mediated endocytosis to internalize nanomedicine. With the release of mRNA from CD8⁺ T cells, T cells are reprogrammed to express CAR or TCR, inducing anti-tumor responses [152]. ECM, extracellular matrix