Adv. Mater.: Turning Waste into Wealth: A Potent Sono-Immune Strategy Based on Microcystis

Title：

Turning Waste into Wealth: A Potent Sono-Immune Strategy Based onMicrocystis

Authors：

Yuqi Yang^1,2,3, Jun Ge⁴, Xiaoyan Zhong⁵, Luyao Liu⁵, Linfu Chen¹, Shunyi Lu⁴, Jiacheng Ren¹, Youdong Chen¹, Shumin Sun¹, Zhuorun Song⁴, Yuan Cheng^2,3, Liang Cheng¹*

Institutions：

¹Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

²Monash Suzhou Research Institute, Monash University, Suzhou 215000, China.

³Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton VIC3800, Australia.

⁴Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

⁵Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

Abstract：

Currently, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has limited therapeutic outcomes and immune responses, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced strategies that can stimulate robust and long-lasting antitumor effects.Microcystis, a notorious microalga, reveals the possibility of mediating SDT owing to the presence of gas vesicles (GVs) and phycocyanin (PC). Herein, a nontoxic strain ofMicrocystis elabens(labeledMe) is developed as a novel agent for SDT because it generates O₂under red light (RL) illumination, while GVs and PC act as cavitation nuclei and sonosensitizers, respectively. Moreover, algal debris is released after ultrasound (US) irradiation, which primes the Toll-like receptor pathway to initiate a cascade of immune responses. This sono-immune strategy inhibits CT26 colon tumor growth largely by promoting dendritic cell (DC) maturation and cytotoxic T-cell activation. After combination with the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the therapeutic outcome is further amplified, accompanied by satisfactory abscopal and immune memory effects; the similar potency is proven in the “cold” 4T1 triple-negative breast tumor. In addition,Meexhibits good biosafety without significant acute or chronic toxicity. Briefly, this study turns waste into wealth by introducing sono-immunotherapy based onMicrocystisthat achieved encouraging therapeutic effects on cancer, which is expected to be translated into the clinic.

IF：

27.4

Link：

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202401974

Editor: Guo Jia