"Multi-in-One" Yolk-Shell Structured Nanoplatform Inducing Pyroptosis and Antitumor Immune Response Through Cascade Reactions

Abstract

Pyroptosis, a new mode of regulatory cell death, holds a promising prospect in tumor therapy. The occurrence of pyroptosis can trigger the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activate the antitumor immune response. Moreover, enhancing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation can effectively induce pyroptosis. Herein, an integrated nanoplatform (hCZAG) based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ as active nodes and glucose oxidase (GOx) loading is constructed to evoke pyroptosis. GOx can effectively elevate intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) levels to regulate the unfavorable tumor microenvironment (TME). Cu²⁺ can be reduced to Cu⁺ by endogenous overexpressed GSH and both Cu²⁺ and Cu⁺ can exert Fenton-like activity to promote ROS generation and amplify oxidative stress. In addition, the accumulation of Cu²⁺ leads to the aggregation of lipoylated dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT), thus resulting in cuproptosis. Notably, the outburst of ROS induced by hCZAG activates Caspase-1 proteins, leads to the cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD), and induces pyroptosis. Pyroptosis further elicits an adaptive immune response, leading to immunogenic cell death (ICD). This study provides effective strategies for triggering pyroptosis-mediated immunotherapy and achieving improved therapeutic effects.

Keywords: cascade reactions; chemodynamic therapy; cuproptosis; immunogenic cell death; pyroptosis.