STING-activating dendritic cell-targeted nanovaccines that evoke potent antigen cross-presentation for cancer immunotherapy

Recently,nanovaccine-based immunotherapy has been robustly investigated due to its potential in governing the immune response and generating long-term protective immunity.However,the presentation of a tumor peptide-major histocompatibility complex to T lymphocytes is still a challenge that needs to be addressed for eliciting potent antitumor immunity.Type 1 conventional dendritic cell(cDC1)subset is of particular interest due to its pivotal contribution in the cross-presentation of exogenous antigens to CD8+T cells.Here,the DC-derived nanovaccine(denoted as Si9GM)selectively targets cDC1s with marginal loss of premature antigen release for effective stimulator of interferon genes(STING)-mediated antigen cross-presentation.Bone marrow dendritic cell(BMDC)-derived membranes,conjugated to cDC1-specific antibody(αCLEC9A)and binding to tumor peptide(OVA257-264),are coated onto dendrimer-like polyethylenimine(PEI)-grafted silica nanoparticles.Distinct molecular weight-cargos(αCLEC9A-OVA257-264 conjugates and 2′3′-cGAMP STING agonists)are loaded in hierarchical center-radial pores that enables lysosome escape for potent antigen-cross presentation and activates interferon type I,respectively.Impressively,Si9GM vaccination leads to the upregulation of cytotoxic T cells,a reduction in tumor regulatory T cells(Tregs),M1/M2 macrophage polarization,and immune response that synergizes with αPD-1 immune checkpoint blockade.This nanovaccine fulfills a dual role for both direct T cell activation as an artificial antigen-presenting cell and DC subset maturation,indicating its utility in clinical therapy and precision medicine.