Upgrade of the immune system
The human immune system is capable of detecting and killing cancer cells. Unfortunately, tumors have a number of adaptations to resist these attacks. Despite the existence of modern means for the treatment of cancer, metastases and relapses remain a serious problem in oncology. Chinese researchers from Central Southern University have demonstrated a way to boost antitumor immunity using copper telluride nanoparticles that act like enzymes, especially when exposed to near-infrared light. Nanoparticles cause oxidative stress in tumor cells, disabling their immunosuppressive activity and triggering inflammatory processes.
"Nanoferments" have a structure completely different from biological enzymes, but they mimic the catalytic activity of enzymes. They are easier to make than natural enzymes, they are cheaper and more stable.
The researchers demonstrated a new nanoenzyme: these are copper telluride nanoparticles with enzyme activity similar to glutathione oxidase and peroxidase. The effect of this nanoenzyme is due to copper ions that switch between two oxidation states in the presence of the antioxidant glutathione, which is contained in high concentrations in tumor cells. Therefore, nanoferments are active only in malignant cells.
Source: article in Angewandte Chemie.
In addition, they absorb near infrared light (wavelength 1000-1350 nm), due to which local heating of the medium occurs. This effect enhances the enzyme-like activity of nanoferments. During treatment, near-infrared light irradiation can be selectively directed at the tumor.
Experiments on tumor cell cultures and on mouse tumor models have shown that the use of nanoferments and light irradiation triggers a cascade of cellular reactions that significantly increase oxidative stress in the tumor, ultimately leading to cell death. At the same time, the suppression of immunological processes in the microenvironment around the tumor stops. Instead, substances that promote inflammation are released and an immune response is triggered. This effect is confirmed by an increase in the concentration of effector T-lymphocytes. Thus, the immune system is able to learn how to fight metastasis and form an "immunological memory" to prevent tumor recurrence.
Article M. Wen et al. Artificial Enzyme Catalyzed Cascade Reactions: Antitumor Immunotherapy Reinforced by NIR‐II Light is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Wiley Online Library: Immune System Upgrade.