Evidence mapPaperPMID 41834053Full record

ArticleJournal of nanobiotechnology2026

A NIR-Ⅱ-Immunostimulatory nanoplatform rewires immunometabolism to unleash STING-driven antitumor immunity.

Xun Yang, Xuefeng Chen, Minhao Chen, Simei Yang, Ya Wu, Hongye Liao, Tong Xia, Gaoyang Shen, Changzhen Sun, Li Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xun YangSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Xuefeng ChenSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Minhao ChenSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Simei YangDrug Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Ya WuDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Hongye LiaoSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Tong XiaSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Gaoyang ShenSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China.
Changzhen SunDrug Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China. sunchangzhen@swmu.edu.cn.
Li LiuSkin Structure and Function Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province, 646000, Luzhou, China. liuli@swmu.edu.cn.

Funding

the Luzhou Science and Technology Project Grant No. 2024JYJ003the Southwest Medical University School-level Project Fund Grant No. 2024LCYXZX28
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMelanoma represents a highly aggressive and immunotherapy-resistant malignancy with limited immunotherapy efficacy, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment strategies that integrate precise diagnosis and potent immunomodulation. The combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and STING pathway activation has emerged as a promising approach to potentiate antitumor immunity. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to integrate real-time deep-tissue imaging with spatiotemporally synchronized immunostimulation within a single nanoplatform, especially for the effective treatment of advanced melanoma.

resultsHerein, we report a mitochondria-targeted nanotheranostic agent (IRM) constructed through molecular co-assembly of a STING agonist (MSA-2) and a lab-synthesized NIR-Ⅱ fluorophore (IR-817). This nanoplatform enables simultaneous NIR-Ⅱ fluorescence imaging and high-efficiency photothermal conversion (η = 52.79%). More importantly, it ensures efficient, on-demand drug action through spatiotemporally controlled delivery. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, IRM induced localized hyperthermia that provoked pyroptosis and immunogenic cell death (ICD) in primary melanoma tumors. Concurrently, the photothermal stimulus promoted the rapid release of MSA-2, which synergistically activated the STING pathway in dendritic cells (DCs). This event drove immunometabolic reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment, elicited a robust systemic cytotoxic T-cell response, and effectively reversed the immunosuppressive state. This cascade of biological events ultimately led to significant inhibition of distant tumors, demonstrating a robust abscopal effect. Crucially, this therapeutic effect was strictly STING-dependent: in STING-KO mouse models, the suppression of distant tumors was completely abolished following the same treatment. These complementary experimental outcomes directly confirm the indispensable synergy between PTT and STING pathway activation, which together constitute the core mechanism underlying the induction of systemic antitumor immunity by the IRM nanoplatform.

conclusionsOur study illustrates that the IRM nanoplatform effectively merges multimodal imaging with immunometabolic modulation, establishing a durable and systemic antitumor immunity. This work offers a translatable strategy for combinational photo-immunotherapy against advanced melanoma.

Indexed as

Membrane ProteinsNanoparticlesAnimalsCell Line, TumorcGAS-STING Signaling PathwayFemaleHumansImmunotherapyInfrared RaysMelanomaMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMitochondriaPhotothermal TherapySTING ProteinMembrane ProteinsSting1 protein, mouseSTING ProteinImmunometabolic reprogrammingNIR-Ⅱ imagingPhotothermal therapyPyroptosisSTING pathway

Identifiers

PMID41834053
PMCPMC13059612

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.