In cancer immunotherapy, the body's immune cells require a strong and sufficient "signal" to attack cancer cells. However, cancer cells are highly camouflaged, with very few natural signals on their surfaces.
To accurately identify cancer cells, a research team led by Han Shuo from the Center of Excellence in Molecular Cell Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( CAS) has applied proximity labeling technology from chemical biology research to disease treatment.
They successfully developed an engineered nanozyme that can respond to deep red light or ultrasound, which is described as a "nano-marking robot" that can accurately identify cancer cells, Han said.
Nanozymes can carry antibodies or ligands that can recognize cancer cells, and develop on the surface of cancer cells through blood circulation.
By delivering instructions via deep red light or ultrasound, nanozymes can clearly mark cancer cells and turn them into targets.
The researchers also injected custom-made BiTE molecules into mice in experiments, which were not only able to identify targets, but also activate immune T cells to help fight cancer.
"This marker system can also activate the immune system as a whole to form long-term memory, as if a 'tumor vaccine' had been injected into the body," Han said.
This study has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in experimental mouse tumor models and in vitro clinical tumor samples. According to Han, this study is expected to pave the way for the development of smarter and more efficient next-generation immunotherapies.
The study was published online Wednesday (September 10) in the journal Nature .
