A high-valence bismuth(V) nanoplatform triggers cancer cell death and anti-tumor immune responses with exogenous excitation-free endogenous H2O2- and O2-independent ROS generation
Yizhang Tang, Xujiang Yu, Liangrui He, Meng Tang, Wenji Yue, Ruitong Chen, Jie Zhao, Qi Pan, Wanwan Li
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species with evoked immunotherapy holds tremendous promise for cancer treatment but has limitations due to its dependence on exogenous excitation and/or endogenous H2O2 and O2. Here we report a versatile oxidizing pentavalent bismuth(V) nanoplatform (NaBiVO3-PEG) can generate reactive oxygen species in an excitation-free and H2O2- and O2-independent manner. Upon exposure to the tumor microenvironment, NaBiVO3-PEG undergoes continuous H+-accelerated hydrolysis with •OH and 1O2 generation through electron transfer-mediated BiV-to-BiIII conversion and lattice oxygen transformation. The simultaneous release of sodium counterions after endocytosis triggers caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis. NaBiVO3-PEG intratumorally administered initiates robust therapeutic efficacies against both primary and distant tumors and activates systemic immune responses to combat tumor metastasis. NaBiVO3-PEG intravenously administered can efficiently accumulate at the tumor site for further real-time computed tomography monitoring, immunotherapy, or alternative synergistic immune-radiotherapy. Overall, this work offers a nanomedicine based on high-valence bismuth(V) nanoplatform and underscores its great potential for cancer immunotherapy. Here the authors describe an acidic pH-responsive high-valence bismuth(V)-based nanoplatform that promotes exogenous excitation-free and endogenous H2O2- and O2-independent ROS generation, eliciting cancer cell death and anti-tumor immune responses.