Polymer/copper nanocomplex-induced lysosomal cell death promotes tumor lymphocyte infiltration and synergizes anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer

Our previous research discovered that combining the PDA-PEG polymer with copper ions can selectively kill cancer cells. However, the precise mechanism by which this combination functions was not fully understood. This study revealed that the PDA-PEG polymer and copper ions form complementary PDA-PEG/copper (Poly/Cu) nanocomplexes by facilitating copper ion uptake and lysosomal escape. An in vitro study found that Poly/Cu killed 4T1 cells through a lysosome cell death pathway. Furthermore, Poly/Cu inhibited both the proteasome function and autophagy pathway and induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) in 4T1 cells. The Poly/Cu induced ICD coupled with the checkpoint blockade effect of the anti-PD-L1 antibody (aPD-L1) synergistically promoted immune cell penetration into the tumor mass. Benefiting from the tumor-targeting effect and cancer cell-selective killing effect of Poly/Cu complexes, the combinatory treatment of aPD-L1 and Poly/Cu effectively suppressed the progression of triple-negative breast cancer without inducing systemic side effects.