The potential of biomimetic nanoparticles for macrophage repolarisation and phagocytosis in tumour immunotherapy

Abstract

The immunomodulation of macrophages against cancer has become a promising avenue for therapy. However, activation of macrophages during antitumour immunotherapy faces two major challenges. First, cancer cells avoid phagocytosis by macrophages by expressing “don’t eat me” signals on the surface. Next, tumour cells release colony-stimulating factors that drive the polarisation of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) into M2 cells that support tumour growth. Biomimetic nanotechnology has emerged as a potential tool for delivery of diverse drugs. Herein, we summarise the use of biomimetic nanoparticles that target the repolarisation and phagocytosis of TAMs. Because biomimetic nanoparticles, together with modification technologies, display superiority in prolonged circulation, good biocompatibility, weak immunogenicity and high targeting specificity compared to conventional nanoparticles, we emphasis various biomimetic nanomaterials that mechanistically utilise the repolarisation or phagocytosis of TAMs.