Biodegradable nano-immune agonist for enhanced immunotherapy of melanoma via the synergistic action of cuproptosis and cGAS-STING enhanced immune response

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for melanoma treatment. However, the efficacy of traditional immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains limited due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, a novel nano-immune agonist, pLCGM-OVA, was developed to induce cuproptosis and activate the cGAS-STING pathway, thereby enhancing melanoma immunotherapy. The pLCGM-OVA was synthesized by conjugating PDGFB with liposomes that encapsulate CuGdMn nanoclusters (CGM) and ovalbumin (OVA). Upon exposure to the acidic microenvironment of tumours, pLCGM-OVA undergoes degradation, releasing Cu ions, Mn ions, and free OVA. This release triggers reactive oxygen species-mediated cuproptosis and activates the cGAS-STING pathway via Mn, leading to the subsequent induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Simultaneously, free OVA and ICD antigens are presented to dendritic cells (DCs), promoting their maturation and enhancing cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, thus improving the efficacy of tumour immunotherapy. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that pLCGM-OVA significantly inhibited tumour growth and recurrence with minimal systemic toxicity, owing to the combined effects of cuproptosis and immunotherapy. Moreover, pLCGM-OVA exhibited excellent T 1 contrast (9.26 mM −1 s −1 ), significantly enhancing T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging signals of tumours, facilitating accurate melanoma diagnosis. Overall, this work presents a highly promising candidate for the development of potent immune agonists for melanoma treatment.