Injectable Bioresponsive Gel Depot for Enhanced Immune Checkpoint Blockade

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801527
• Publication Date: 2018-05-22T08:26:47Z
• Authors: Shuangjiang Yu; Chao Wang; Jicheng Yu; Jinqiang Wang; Yue Lu; Yuqi Zhang; Xudong Zhang; Quanyin Hu; Wujin Sun; Chaoliang He; Xuesi Chen; Zhen Gu
• Keywords: Tumor Microenvironment; Humans; Immunotherapy; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; Gels; Melanoma; 3. Good health

AbstractAlthough cancer immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors holds great promise toward many types of cancers, several challenges still remain, associated with low objective response of patient rate as well as systemic side effects. Here, a combination immunotherapy strategy is developed based on a thermogelling reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐responsive polypeptide gel for sustained release of anti‐programmed cell death‐ligand 1 antibody and dextro‐1‐methyl tryptophan, inhibitor of indoleamine‐2,3‐dioxygenase with leveraging the ROS level in the tumor microenvironment. This bioresponsive gel depot can effectively reduce the local ROS level and facilitate release of immunotherapeutics, which leads to enhanced anti‐melanoma efficacy in vivo.