Multifunctional porous microspheres encapsulating oncolytic bacterial spores and their potential for cancer immunotherapy

Biomater Sci. 2023 Jun 27;11(13):4652-4663. doi: 10.1039/d3bm00635b.

Abstract

Clostridium novyi-NT (C. novyi-NT) is an anaerobic bacterium that can be used for targeted cancer therapy because it germinates selectively in the hypoxic regions of tumor tissues. However, systemic administration of C. novyi-NT spores cannot effectively treat tumors because of the limited intratumoral delivery of active spores. In this study, we demonstrated that multifunctional porous microspheres (MPMs) containing C. novyi-NT spores have the potential for image-guided local tumor therapy. The MPMs can be repositioned under an external magnetic field, enabling precise tumor targeting and retention. Polylactic acid-based MPMs were prepared using the oil-in-water emulsion technique and then coated with a cationic polyethyleneimine polymer prior to loading with negatively charged C. novyi-NT spores. The C. novyi-NT spores delivered by MPMs were released and germinated in a simulated tumor microenvironment, effectively secreting proteins cytotoxic to tumor cells. In addition, the germinated C. novyi-NT induced immunogenic death of the tumor cells and M1 polarization of macrophages. These results indicate that MPMs encapsulated with C. novyi-NT spores have great potential for image-guided cancer immunotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Base Composition
  • Clostridium
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Microspheres
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Phylogeny
  • Porosity
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spores, Bacterial*
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Supplementary concepts

  • Clostridium novyi