Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are potent immune-stimulators that hold great potential in vaccine adjuvants as well as cancer immunotherapy. However, TLR agonists in free form are prone to be eliminated quickly by the circulatory system and cause systemic inflammation side effects. It remains a challenge to achieve precise release of TLR7/8 agonist in the native form at the receptor site in the endosomal compartments while keeping stable encapsulation and inactive in nontarget environment. Here, we report a pH-/enzyme-responsive TLR7/8 agonist-conjugated nanovaccine (TNV), which responds intelligently to the acidic environment and cathepsin B in the endosome, precisely releases TLR7/8 agonist to activate its receptor signaling at the endosomal membrane, stimulates DCs maturation, and provokes specific cellular immunity. In vivo experiments demonstrate outstanding prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of TNV in mouse melanoma and colon cancer. The endosome-targeted responsive nanoparticle strategy provides a potential delivery toolbox of adjuvants to advance the development of tumor nanovaccines.
Keywords: Toll-like receptor agonists; hierarchical-responsive nanoparticles; nanoadjuvants; tumor nanovaccines.