Functionalized chitosan nanobubbles as a strategy to reverse immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Carmela Tangredi – PhD student, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Davide Busato – PhD student, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Sara Capolla – Researcher, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Antonella Zucchetto – Researcher, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Valter Gattei – Researcher, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Paolo Macor – Associate Professor, University of Trieste; Giuseppe Toffoli – Researcher, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Michele dal Bo – Researcher, IRCCS CRO Aviano; Roberta Cavalli – Full Professor, University of Turin

Introduction: Chitosan nanobubbles (NBs) have shown a great potential as nanoplatform for anticancer drug delivery [1]. Interestingly, the polymer shell can be functionalized with specific ligands for an active targeted delivery. Moreover, due to their chitosan composition, NBs can modulate the immunological crosstalk within the tumor site and shift various immune cell types, such as macrophages, towards an inflammatory phenotype, reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment [2]. The work aims to investigate the cytotoxic effects and capability to affect tumor microenvironment of NBs conjugated with the anti-CD138 antibody and loaded with doxorubicin for multiple myeloma treatment.