Potentiated Calcium Carbonate with Enhanced Calcium Overload Induction and Acid Neutralization Capabilities to Boost Chemoimmunotherapy against Liver Cancer

Abstract

Unfavorable phenotypes characterized by low immunogenicity and acidity within the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to immunosuppression and therapeutic resistance. Herein, we rationally synthesized a multifunctional nanoregulator by encapsulating DOX and erianin into calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)-based nanoparticles using a modified double emulsion method. The DOX and erianin-loaded CaCO₃-based nanoparticles, termed DECaNPs, could effectively induce the calcium overload by triggering calcium influx and absorbing CaCO₃ nanoparticles. Additionally, DECaNPs also neutralize the acidic TME by interacting with extracellular protons and limiting lactic acid production, a result of metabolic remodeling in cancer cells. As a result, DECaNPs elicit cellular oxidative stress damage, which mediates the activation of ferroptosis/apoptosis hybrid pathways, and profound immunogenic cell death. Treatment with DECaNPs could inhibit the growth of tumors by promoting oxidative stress, acid neutralization, metabolic remodeling, and protective antitumor immunity <i>in vivo</i>. In addition, DECaNPs could synergistically amplify the antitumor effects of αPD-L1 in a bilateral tumor model by eliciting systemic immune responses. In all, our work presents the preparation of CaCO₃-based nanoregulators designed to reverse the unfavorable TME and enhance αPD-L1 immunotherapy through multiple mechanisms.