Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery System for Normalization of Tumor Microenvironment and Tumor Vascular Structure
Hee-Jin Ha, Yonghyun Choi, Na-Hyeon Kim, Jiwon Kim, Jaehee Jang, Tagbo H. R. Niepa, Masayoshi Tanaka, Heeyoung Lee, Jonghoon Choi
Abstract
Tumors grow by receiving oxygen and nutrients from the surrounding blood vessels, leading to rapid angiogenesis. This results in functionally and structurally abnormal vasculature characterized by high permeability and irregular blood flow, causing hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Hypoxia exacerbates the secretion of pro-angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), further perpetuating abnormal vessel formation. This environment compromises the efficacy of radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. In this study, we developed a pH-sensitive liposome (PSL) system, termed OD_PSL@AKB, to co-deliver oxygen (OD) and razuprotafib (AKB-9778) to tumors. This system rapidly responds to the acidic TME to alleviate hypoxia and inhibit VEGF secretion, restoring VE-cadherin expression in hypoxic endothelial cell/cancer cell cocultures. Our findings highlight the potential of OD_PSL@AKB in normalizing tumor vasculature and improving therapeutic efficacy.