Ultrasound-triggered carrier-free nanoprodrugs activate cGAS-STING pathway to enhance tumor-targeting chemo-immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Chemotherapy-induced cell apoptosis results in nuclear damage and the subsequent release of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments, which can stimulate the cGAS-STING pathway to initiate antitumor immune responses. However, this pathway may be less effective due to nonspecific systemic toxicity caused by chemotherapeutic agents and inefficient dsDNA accumulation. This study aimed to develop an ultrasound (US)-triggered carrier-free nanoprodrug PBSN38-curcumin (PBSN38-CUR), incorporating the sonosensitizer curcumin (CUR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive prodrug pinacol boronic ester-conjugated 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (PBSN38). The objective was to enhance tumor-targeted chemo-immunotherapy by amplifying in situ DNA damage signals to activate the cGAS-STING pathway i

SUBMITTER: Xu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12907047 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature