Fabrication of methylene blue-loaded ovalbumin/polypyrrole nanoparticles for enhanced phototherapy-triggered antitumour immune activation

Abstract Background Phototherapy-triggered immunogenic cell death (ICD) rarely elicits a robust antitumour immune response, partially due to low antigen exposure and inefficient antigen presentation. To address these issues, we developed novel methylene blue-loaded ovalbumin/polypyrrole nanoparticles (MB@OVA/PPY NPs) via oxidative polymerization and π–π stacking interactions. Results The as-prepared MB@OVA/PPY NPs with outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency (38%) and photodynamic properties were readily internalized into the cytoplasm and accumulated in the lysosomes and mitochondria. Upon 808 nm and 660 nm laser irradiation, the MB@OVA/PPY NPs not only ablated tumour cells by inducing local hyperthermia but also damaged residual tumour cells by generating a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), finally triggering the release of many damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Moreover, the MB@OVA/PPY NPs synergized with DAMPs to promote the maturation and improve the antigen presentation ability of DCs in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions This work reported a PPY NPs-based nanoplatform to encapsulate the therepeutic proteins and absorb the functional molecules for combination therapy of tumours. The results demonstrated that the prepared MB@OVA/PPY NPs could be used as effective nanotherapeutic agents to eliminate solid tumours and trigger a powerful antitumour immune response.