Functionalized aluminum hydroxide-based self-adjuvanted nanovaccine orchestrates antitumor immune responses via Dectin-1 signaling

Anti-tumor effect and immune-related mechanism study of compound aluminum sulfate injection in transplanted tumor-bearing mice

This study investigates the antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of compound aluminum sulfate (CAS) solution in murine melanoma models. Using syngeneic B16-F10 and B16-OVA tumor models, we demonstrate that intratumoral CAS injection significantly inhibits primary tumor growth and lung metastasis. Flow cytometry analysis reveals that CAS treatment increases splenic populations of CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, CD3+CD44+ memory T cells, and NK cells, while enhancing CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor tissue. ELISA results show elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2) in splenic culture supernatants and serum following CAS administration. Immunofluorescence staining confirms increased expression of CD8 and IFN-γ proteins in tumor tissues of CAS-treated mice. Results indicate that CAS exerts its antitumor effects through direct cytotoxicity and by modulating both systemic and local immune responses. The dual action of CAS, which combines tumor necrosis with immunostimulation, positions it as a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying CAS's action and underscores its potential clinical applications in oncology.

β-1,3 Glucan Microparticles & Nanoparticles: Fabrication Methods & Applications in Immunomodulation & Targeted Drug Delivery

Innate immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells play major roles in the progression of many cancerous, fibrotic, and autoimmune diseases, often due to environmental cues that skew these cells toward a phenotype that progresses or exacerbates the disease state. As such, a growing focus in treating such diseases is placed on exploiting the high plasticity of these cells to modify or reverse their pro-disease phenotypes using immunomodulatory materials. β-1,3 glucans are one such type of material that has exhibited diverse immunomodulatory effects on immune cells, including the mitigation or reversal of the adverse effects of dysregulated immune cells. In this review, we outline various fabrication techniques to produce β-1,3 glucan-derived microparticles and nanoparticles and discuss the diverse particle properties that can be obtained by tuning glucan chemistry, fabrication method, and formulation components. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory applications of β-1,3 glucan particles are highlighted with a focus on immune cell targeting, modulation, and the delivery of small molecule and macromolecular therapeutics.