A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition

Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer therapy modality by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering immunogenic cell death. However, the therapeutic effect of PDT is strongly limited by tumor hypoxia and immunosuppressive landscape. Herein, a pH‐sensitive nanosized...

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Main Authors: Lei Lei, Wenbin Dai, Jinchao Zhao, Angfeng Jiang, Haisheng Peng, Qiao Jin, Xiaojing Li, Zhe Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202504860
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author Lei Lei
Wenbin Dai
Jinchao Zhao
Angfeng Jiang
Haisheng Peng
Qiao Jin
Xiaojing Li
Zhe Tang
author_facet Lei Lei
Wenbin Dai
Jinchao Zhao
Angfeng Jiang
Haisheng Peng
Qiao Jin
Xiaojing Li
Zhe Tang
author_sort Lei Lei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer therapy modality by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering immunogenic cell death. However, the therapeutic effect of PDT is strongly limited by tumor hypoxia and immunosuppressive landscape. Herein, a pH‐sensitive nanosized covalent–organic polymer (COP), composed of the photosensitizer porphyrin and pyruvate kinase inhibitor vitamin K3 (VK3), is designed to overcome these issues. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor WP1066 is further encapsulated into COPs to form a WP1066‐loaded COP (TVW). As an inhibitor of pyruvate kinase, VK3 can reduce intracellular oxygen consumption by inhibiting the glycolytic pathway, leading to the alleviation of the tumor hypoxic microenvironment. The relief of tumor hypoxia by VK3 enhances photodynamic cytotoxicity by generating more ROS. Meanwhile, STAT3 acts as a major regulator of PD‐L1, a key inhibitor that promotes immune escape. WP1066 effectively inhibits the expression of STAT3 and reduces PD‐L1 expression, thereby significantly inhibiting tumor immune escape and enhancing antitumor efficacy in a synergistic manner. The antitumor capacity of photodynamic immunotherapy is extensively investigated in a murine subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma model. This photo‐immunotherapy may provide an effective combination regimen for the efficient treatment of solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2198-3844
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-1d0c5bead94f4132afcc8b8bd78a9a342025-08-20T03:41:08ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011229n/an/a10.1002/advs.202504860A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 InhibitionLei Lei0Wenbin Dai1Jinchao Zhao2Angfeng Jiang3Haisheng Peng4Qiao Jin5Xiaojing Li6Zhe Tang7Department of General Surgery The Fourth Affiliated Hospital International Institutes of Medicine Zhejiang University School of Medicine Yiwu 322000 ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 ChinaDepartment of General Surgery The Fourth Affiliated Hospital International Institutes of Medicine Zhejiang University School of Medicine Yiwu 322000 ChinaDepartment of General Surgery The Fourth Affiliated Hospital International Institutes of Medicine Zhejiang University School of Medicine Yiwu 322000 ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology Medical College of Shaoxing University Shaoxing 312099 ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 ChinaDepartment of Gynecology The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 ChinaDepartment of Surgery The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 ChinaAbstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer therapy modality by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering immunogenic cell death. However, the therapeutic effect of PDT is strongly limited by tumor hypoxia and immunosuppressive landscape. Herein, a pH‐sensitive nanosized covalent–organic polymer (COP), composed of the photosensitizer porphyrin and pyruvate kinase inhibitor vitamin K3 (VK3), is designed to overcome these issues. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor WP1066 is further encapsulated into COPs to form a WP1066‐loaded COP (TVW). As an inhibitor of pyruvate kinase, VK3 can reduce intracellular oxygen consumption by inhibiting the glycolytic pathway, leading to the alleviation of the tumor hypoxic microenvironment. The relief of tumor hypoxia by VK3 enhances photodynamic cytotoxicity by generating more ROS. Meanwhile, STAT3 acts as a major regulator of PD‐L1, a key inhibitor that promotes immune escape. WP1066 effectively inhibits the expression of STAT3 and reduces PD‐L1 expression, thereby significantly inhibiting tumor immune escape and enhancing antitumor efficacy in a synergistic manner. The antitumor capacity of photodynamic immunotherapy is extensively investigated in a murine subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma model. This photo‐immunotherapy may provide an effective combination regimen for the efficient treatment of solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202504860covalent–organic polymerhypoxia reliefimmunotherapynanomedicinephotodynamic therapy
spellingShingle Lei Lei
Wenbin Dai
Jinchao Zhao
Angfeng Jiang
Haisheng Peng
Qiao Jin
Xiaojing Li
Zhe Tang
A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
Advanced Science
covalent–organic polymer
hypoxia relief
immunotherapy
nanomedicine
photodynamic therapy
title A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
title_full A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
title_fullStr A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
title_full_unstemmed A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
title_short A pH‐Sensitive Nanosized Covalent–Organic Polymer for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy by Hypoxia Relief and STAT3 Inhibition
title_sort ph sensitive nanosized covalent organic polymer for enhanced tumor photodynamic immunotherapy by hypoxia relief and stat3 inhibition
topic covalent–organic polymer
hypoxia relief
immunotherapy
nanomedicine
photodynamic therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202504860
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