Biomimetic nanoprobe-augmented triple therapy with photothermal, sonodynamic and checkpoint blockade inhibits tumor growth and metastasis.

Background: Comprehensive antitumor therapy through integrated multimodal means has drawn increasing attention owing to its high efficiency and metastasis suppression.

Results: We describe a synergistic triple protocol combining photothermal and sonodynamic therapy (PTT and SDT), together with immune checkpoint blockade for the inhibition of breast cancer growth and metastases in the 4T1 mouse model. PTT and SDT are synergistically augmented by a novel multimodal imaging nanoprobe integrated with cancer cell membrane-biomimetic nanoparticles (CHINPs) loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME). CHINPs exhibit excellent homologous tumor targeting, and are sequentially triggered by ultrasound and near infrared (NIR) light under the guidance of magnetic resonance, photoacoustic and photothermal imaging, leading to complete in situ tumor eradication and systemic anti-tumor immune activation. Further combination of this approach with immune checkpoint blockade therapy is shown to suppress tumor metastasis.

Conclusion: This work provides proof-of-principle for triple therapy using multimodal imaging-guided PTT/SDT based on biomimetic nanoprobes in combination with immunotherapy to eliminate tumors.