Reprogramming Tumor-Associated Macrophages with a Se-Based Core–Satellite Nanoassembly to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), as the most prevalent immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, play a pivotal role in promoting tumor development through various signaling pathways. Herein, we have engineered a Se@ZIF-8 core-satellite nanoassembly to reprogram TAMs, thereby enhancing immunotherapy outcomes. When the nanoassembly reaches the tumor tissue, selenium nanoparticles and Zn²⁺ are released in response to the acidic tumor microenvironment, resulting in a collaborative effort to promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The generated ROS, in turn, activate the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, driving the repolarization of TAMs from M2-type to M1-type, effectively eliminating cancer cells. Moreover, the nanoassembly can induce the immunogenic death of cancer cells through excess ROS to expose calreticulin and boost macrophage phagocytosis. The Se@ZIF-8 core-satellite nanoassembly provides a potential paradigm for cancer immunotherapy by reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment.