Drug-loaded nanoparticles induce immunogenic cell death and efficiently target cells from glioblastoma patients.

Aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), posing significant challenges for efficient therapy's outcomes. Nanomedicine combined with immunotherapy holds the potential to modulate the TME and reactivate immune responses. This study proposes a polymeric nanosystem (NPs) encapsulating diaminocyclohexane-platinum II (DACHPt), an oxaliplatin derivative, to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in GBM cells.

Materials & methods: An ionic-gelation technique was employed to generate polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with an approximate size of 200 nm. NPs internalization was analyzed in GBM cell lines, in vitro-derived macrophages, and in leukocytes and tumor cells from GBM patient via flow cytometry and confocal imaging. ICD was assessed by measuring two of its main markers: adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1).

Results: NPs were efficiently incorporated by myeloid and tumor cells, but not by lymphocytes. DACHPt-loaded NPs demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity compared to free drug, with increased ATP and HMGB1 release from GBM cells, confirming ICD induction.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DACHPt-loaded NPs represent a promising therapeutic strategy capable of targeting both tumor cells and tumor-promoting immune cells while inducing ICD.