Citation: Xue Ma, Anning Li, Zhiliang Gao, Ning Wang, Mengqi Li, Kanaparedu P.C. Sekhar, Muthupandian Ashokkumar, Shumei Zhai, Jiwei Cui, Qun Yu. Vaccination of STING agonists-loaded nanoemulsions for cancer immunotherapy[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 111410. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111410 shu

Vaccination of STING agonists-loaded nanoemulsions for cancer immunotherapy

Xue Ma ^{a, 1} ,
Anning Li ^{b, 1} ,
Zhiliang Gao ^c ,
Ning Wang ^a ,
Mengqi Li ^a ,
Kanaparedu P.C. Sekhar ^a ,
Muthupandian Ashokkumar ^d ,
Shumei Zhai ^a ,
Jiwei Cui ^a ,
Qun Yu ^{a, *,}

a.
Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250100, China
b.
Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250012, China
c.
Shandong Key Laboratory of Magnetic Field-free Medicine & Functional Imaging, Research Institute of Magnetic Field-free Medicine & Functional Imaging, National Medicine-Engineering Interdisciplinary Industry-Education Integration Innovation Platform, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250012, China
d.
School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia

qunyu@sdu.edu.cn

Received Date: 4 March 2025
Revised Date: 3 June 2025
Accepted Date: 5 June 2025
Available Online: 6 June 2025

Figures(4)

Cancer vaccines have proven to be a powerful tool in anti-tumor immunotherapy, leveraging antigen-specific T-cell responses. The effective activation of the stimulator of the interferon gene (STING) protein signal pathway by natural or synthetic agonists leads to the creation of a pro-immune tumor microenvironment. Here, we report the preparation of ovalbumin (OVA) loaded cancer vaccines based on nanoemulsions, denoted as DMMF59-OVA, for the co-delivery of antigens and a STING agonist (MSA-2). The nanovaccines were obtained via encapsulation of MSA-2 into squalene phase, which was stabilized by surfactants and coated with OVA. Upon intramuscular administration, the engineered nanovaccine facilitates antigen internalization, maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and efficient activation of the STING pathway. These results in enhanced antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses that significantly inhibit tumor growth in an E.G7-OVA mouse model. The studies provide an avenue for the application of nanovaccine in tumor immunotherapy. Given the ease of preparation and tunable physicochemical properties, DMMF59-OVA represents a promising therapeutic nanovaccine for biomedical applications
- Cancer vaccine,
- Adjuvants,
- STING agonists,
- Nanoemulsion,
- Immunotherapy
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