Conclusions
The proof-of-concept strategy of upregulating tumor reoxygenation is achieved by MW triggered IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs, which has exhibited optimal therapeutic outcomes of combination of RT and MWTT tumor. Such unique MW-responsive reoxygenation enhancer may stimulate the research of reshaping tumor microenvironment for enhancing versatile tumor treatment.
Methods
We prepared a promising multifunctional nanosuperparticle to upregulate tumor reoxygenation by utilizing CuO nanoparticle to generate oxygen under MW irradiation in the tumor microenvironment. The IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs were obtained by introducing CuO nanoparticles, MW sensitizer of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IL), radiosensitizer of Quercetin (Qu) and surface modifier of monomethoxy polyethylene glycol sulfhyl (mPEG-SH, 5k Da) into mesoporous sandwich SiO2@ZrO2 nanosuperparticles (SiO2@ZrO2 NSPs). The release oxygen by IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs under MW irradiation was investigated by a microcomputer dissolved oxygen-biochemical oxygen demand detector (DO-BOD) test. Finally, we used the 99mTc-HL91 labeled reoxygenation imaging, Cellular immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL experiments to verify that this unique MW-responsive reoxygenation enhancer can be used to stimulate reshaping of the tumor microenvironment.
Results
Through experiments we found that the IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs can persistently release oxygen under the MW irradiation, which upregulates tumor reoxygenation and improve the combined tumor treatment effect of RT and microwave thermal therapy (MWTT). Cellular immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry experiments demonstrated that the IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs can downregulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) under MW irradiation. The 99mTc-HL91 labeled reoxygenation imaging experiment also showed that the oxygen generated by IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs under MW irradiation can significantly increase the reoxygenation capacity of tumor cells, thus reshaping the tumor microenvironment. The high inhibition rate of 98.62% was achieved in the antitumor experiments in vivo. In addition, the IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs also had good computed tomography (CT) imaging effects, which can be used to monitor the treatment of tumors in real-time. Conclusions: The proof-of-concept strategy of upregulating tumor reoxygenation is achieved by MW triggered IQuCS@Zr-PEG NSPs, which has exhibited optimal therapeutic outcomes of combination of RT and MWTT tumor. Such unique MW-responsive reoxygenation enhancer may stimulate the research of reshaping tumor microenvironment for enhancing versatile tumor treatment.