Citation: Ping Sun, Nansha Gao, Li Yang, Yao Yang, Li Huang, Hongzhong Chen, Hualin Ma, Xiaowei Zeng. Dissolved microneedle loading polydopamine nanoparticles induced tumor-associated macrophage polarization and promoted dendritic cell maturation for tumor immunotherapy[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 112071. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112071 shu

Dissolved microneedle loading polydopamine nanoparticles induced tumor-associated macrophage polarization and promoted dendritic cell maturation for tumor immunotherapy

Ping Sun ^a ,
Nansha Gao ^{b, c, *,} ,
Li Yang ^a ,
Yao Yang ^a ,
Li Huang ^a ,
Hongzhong Chen ^a ,
Hualin Ma ^{d, *,} ,
Xiaowei Zeng ^{a, *,}

a.
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
b.
Guangzhou Vocational University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510550, China
c.
Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518038, China
d.
Shenzhen key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China

gaonansha_1@163.com

mahualin0796@sina.com

zengxw23@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Received Date: 19 August 2025
Revised Date: 3 November 2025
Accepted Date: 5 November 2025
Available Online: 5 November 2025

Figures(5)

Microneedles (MNs) represent a rapidly evolving transdermal drug delivery method, with ongoing development efforts focused on overcoming challenges such as limited drug loading and pore occlusion. Herein, we report dissolvable MNs vaccine with excellent drug loading as well as other positive features that make it an ideal delivery carrier in tumor immunotherapy. This study employs a biodegradable polydopamine-based nano-delivery system to co-encapsulate both Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist resiquimod (R848) and ovalbumin (OVA) antigens, which are subsequently incorporated into MN patches to achieve synergistic photothermal-immunotherapeutic effects. The MN vaccine targets tumor sites via transdermal administration, exhibiting significant therapeutic efficacy by enabling deep tissue drug release and maintaining prolonged therapeutic levels for at least 3 days. The MN tips are rapidly degraded under photothermal action to release R848 and OVA, can effectively polarizes the tumor-associated macrophages to M1-type macrophages and activate dendritic cells to enhance immune response in vivo, thereby, the MN vaccines have shown excellent efficacy and good safety, resulting in a sufficient and persistent anti-tumor cellular immune response with potent tumor immunotherapeutic efficacy. In brief, this study demonstrates that MN administration successfully delivers polydopamine-based nanotherapeutics to tumor sites and validates their anti-tumor efficacy.
- Dissolving microneedles,
- Tams polarization,
- Dendritic cell activation,
- Transdermal delivery,
- Tumor immunotherapy
1. [1]
  Y. Chen, J. Zhu, J. Ding, W. Zhou, Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 108706. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108706
2. [2]
  S.K. Roy, K.A. Ali, M. Biswas, et al., Curr. Drug Deliv. 22 (2024) 878–894. doi: 10.14245/ns.2448546.273
3. [3]
  T.M. Tuan-Mahmood, M.T. McCrudden, B.M. Torrisi, et al., Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 50 (2013) 623–637. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2013.05.005
4. [4]
  T.T. Nguyen, Y. Oh, Y. Kim, et al., Hum. Vaccines Immunother. 17 (2021) 316–327. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1767997
5. [5]
  Y. Li, J. Yang, Y. Zheng, et al., Acta Biomater. 121 (2021) 349–358. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.023
6. [6]
  T.T. Nguyen, J.H. Park, Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. 15 (2018) 235–245. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2018.1410138
7. [7]
  J.L. Paris, L.K. Vora, M.J. Torres, et al., Drug Discov. Today 28 (2023) 103556. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103556
8. [8]
  X. Jiang, S. Wang, L. Zhang, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 108686. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108686
9. [9]
  C. Liu, C. Han, J. Liu, Oncol. Res. 27 (2019) 965. doi: 10.3727/096504019x15498329881440
10. [10]
  T. Nie, Y. Fang, R. Zhang, et al., Bioact. Mater. 47 (2025) 51–63.
11. [11]
  S. Han, J. Wu, Bioact. Mater. 17 (2022) 300–319.
12. [12]
  J.Q. Wang, L.Y. Wang, S.J. Li, et al., Nanoscale 12 (2020) 15767–15774. doi: 10.1039/d0nr03138k
13. [13]
  B. Bahmani, H. Gong, B.T. Luk, et al., Nat. Commun. 12 (2021) 1999. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22311-z
14. [14]
  K.A. Michaelis, M.A. Norgard, X. Zhu, et al., Nat. Commun. 10 (2019) 4682. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12657-w
15. [15]
  M. Schön, M. Schön, Oncogene 27 (2008) 190–199. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210913
16. [16]
  P. Zhou, J. Qin, C. Zhou, et al., Biomaterials 195 (2019) 86–99. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.01.007
17. [17]
  E.J. Cheadle, G. Lipowska-Bhalla, S.J. Dovedi, et al., Leukemia 31 (2017) 1611–1621. doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.352
18. [18]
  J. Domingo-Diez, L. Souiade, V. Manzaneda-González, et al., Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24 (2023) 13306. doi: 10.3390/ijms241713306
19. [19]
  X. Yan, K. Li, T.Q. Xie, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 63 (2024) e202318539. doi: 10.1002/anie.202318539
20. [20]
  G. Chen, Z. Yang, X. Yu, et al., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 652 (2023) 1108–1116. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.126
21. [21]
  C. Ni, J. Lu, Z. Chen, et al., Mater. Des. 229 (2023) 111858. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2023.111858
22. [22]
  J. Li, L. Xie, B. Li, et al., Adv. Mater. 33 (2021) 2008481. doi: 10.1002/adma.202008481
23. [23]
  J. Zhou, W. Zhao, Z. Miao, et al., ACS Nano 14 (2020) 2126–2136. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.9b08894
24. [24]
  L. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. Xue, et al., Adv. Mater. 31 (2019) 1805936. doi: 10.1002/adma.201805936
25. [25]
  T. Zhao, L. Chen, M. Liu, et al., Nat. Chem. 15 (2023) 832–840. doi: 10.1038/s41557-023-01183-4
26. [26]
  H. Guan, Z. Xu, G. Du, et al., Mater. Today Bio 19 (2023) 100610. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100610
27. [27]
  P. Yang, S. Zhang, N. Zhang, et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11 (2019) 42671–42679. doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b16861
28. [28]
  S. Huo, Z. Lyu, X. Wang, et al., Biomaterials 312 (2025) 122739. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122739
29. [29]
  Y. Liu, C. Wang, S. Liu, et al., Int. J. Nanomed. 19 (2024) 10819–10837. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S467419
30. [30]
  H. Yuan, H. Gui, S. Chen, et al., Int. J. Nanomed. 19 (2024) 3589–3605. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s450205
31. [31]
  Y. He, L. Zhan, J. Shi, et al., Adv. Sci. 10 (2023) 2207650. doi: 10.1002/advs.202207650
32. [32]
  X. Zhang, L. Yue, L. Cao, et al., Acta Biomater. 186 (2024) 369–382. doi: 10.11152/mu-4411
33. [33]
  L. Tian, Z. Tan, Y. Yang, et al., Acta Biomater. 169 (2023) 209–227. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.039
34. [34]
  Z. Dong, W. Yang, Y. Zhang, et al., J. Control. Release 373 (2024) 172–188. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.07.009
35. [35]
  S. Chen, J. Wang, L. Sun, et al., Biomaterials 311 (2024) 122687. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122687
36. [36]
  H. Zhao, J. Xu, Y. Li, et al., ACS Nano 13 (2019) 13127–13135. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.9b05974
37. [37]
  B.T.N. Dang, R. Duwa, S. Lee, et al., J. Control. Release 372 (2024) 587–608. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.06.062
38. [38]
  P. Sun, Z. Li, D. Zhang, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 108346. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108346
39. [39]
  H. Wu, G. Cao, M. Liu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 36 (2024) 110493.
40. [40]
  F. Peng, Y. Xiang, H. Wang, et al., Small 18 (2022) 2204011. doi: 10.1002/smll.202204011
1. [1]
  Jing Li , Jie Wang , Bingqian Li , Meng Long , Xiumei Liu , Dengxuan Mao , Patrick Pan , Ying Liu , Zimei Wu , Yaqi Lyu , Nianping Feng . Engineering a garlic-derived nanovesicle/microneedle system to boost melanoma immunotherapy through self-amplifying cell death activation and immune remodelling. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(8): 111878-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111878
2. [2]
  Bing Xie , Qi Jiang , Fang Zhu , Yaoyao Lai , Yueming Zhao , Wei He , Pei Yang . Transdermal delivery of amphotericin B using deep eutectic solvents for antifungal therapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(5): 110508-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110508
3. [3]
  Xuebing Jiang , Siyi Wang , Li Zhang , Xian Jiang , Maling Gou . Lidocaine hydrochloride loaded isomaltulose microneedles for efficient local anesthesia of the skin. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(4): 108686-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108686
4. [4]
  Lijun Li , Chenliang Guo , Yuelin Fang , Zijian Cheng , Yaowei Li , Zhangyu Wang , Dian Cai , Yuqi Xu , Wenqi Liu , Shouwei Ma , Xinxin Zhang . Deformable hyaluronic acid niosomes overcome multi-barriers for improved ergothioneine transdermal delivery against UV-induced skin damage. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(11): 110839-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110839
5. [5]
  Zhiyuan Huang , Fangqiu Fu , Chaoqiang Deng , Shiyang Wu , Mingxuan Huang , Xianyi Sha , Ming Q Wei , Zhiwen Zhang , Yang Zhang . Strategies of designing lymph nodes-targeting nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111993-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111993
6. [6]
  Dingmei Zhang , Yaping Liu , Sirui Liu , Jun Wu , Zhenfeng Wu , Wei He . Deep eutectic solvent-mediated local delivery of Cacumen Platycladi essential oil against androgenetic alopecia. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111942-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111942
7. [7]
  Chuangxin Zhang , Yunxia Wang , Ruipeng Li , Sirong Zhou , Liheng Feng . A multi-pronged approach to activate and amplify cGAS-STING for boosted photoimmunotherapy by drug-free nano-assembly. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(5): 111403-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111403
8. [8]
  Yuhuan Wu , Hoiian Ieong , Wenhao Wang , Chuanbin Wu , Anqi Lu , Xin Pan , Zhengwei Huang . Polymer modification effects in nanocarrier-loaded dissolving microneedles: Implications for transdermal drug delivery. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(3): 111944-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111944
9. [9]
  Huijuan Zhang , Chenglin Liang , Xinyi Ding , Meng Zhang , Siyu Lu , Lin Hou . Manganese-based nano-delivery system for sensitized anti-tumor immunotherapy via combined autophagy inhibition. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110525-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110525
10. [10]
  Shuang Liang , Jianjun Yao , Dan Liu , Mengli Zhou , Yong Cui , Zhaohui Wang . Tumor-responsive covalent organic polymeric nanoparticles enhancing STING activation for cancer immunotherapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(3): 109856-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109856
11. [11]
  Xiaopeng Han , Jiayin Li , Fei Li , Zhongyue Yuan , Hao Li , Lei Yang , Yan-Ming Xia , Chao Teng , Chao Qin , Lifang Yin . ROS-sensitive dihydroartemisinin prodrug amplify chemo-immunotherapy efficacy of doxorubicin by coordinating robust tumor cell immunogenic cell death and PD-L1 blockade. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 111335-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111335
12. [12]
  Qingwen Xu , Zhigang Xie , Min Zheng . Construction of pH-responsive Lycium barbarum-derived carbon dots nanovaccines for enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(6): 100203-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100203
13. [13]
  Yanjun Cai , Yong Jiang , Yu Chen , Erzhuo Cheng , Yuan Gu , Yuwei Li , Qianqian Liu , Jian Zhang , Jifang Liu , Shisong Han , Bin Yang . Amplifying STING activation and immunogenic cell death by metal-polyphenol coordinated nanomedicines for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(5): 110437-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110437
14. [14]
  Zengzhen Chen , Lirong Zhao , Wenna Guo , Longfei Tan , Qiong Wu , Changhui Fu , Xiangling Ren , Shiping Yu , Xiaowei Chen , Nam-Young Kim , Guihua Jiang , Xianwei Meng . Microwave-sensitive Al-based nano-immunoadjuvant for strengthened tumor microwave-immunotherapy via programmed activation of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(3): 111299-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111299
15. [15]
  Ying Sun , Minglong Chen , Ying Chen , Wanchen Zhao , Yanping Fu , Zhengwei Huang , Chao Lu , Chuanbin Wu , Xin Pan , Guilan Quan . Dissolving microneedle-assisted in situ cancer vaccine combined with cytolytic peptide for anti-melanoma immunotherapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(12): 110908-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110908
16. [16]
  Qin Yu , Haisheng He , Jianping Qi , Yi Lu , Wei Wu . Oral delivery of insulin by barbed microneedles actuated by intestinal peristalsis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109888-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109888
17. [17]
  Dexuan Xiao , Tianyu Chen , Tianxu Zhang , Sirong Shi , Mei Zhang , Xin Qin , Yunkun Liu , Longjiang Li , Yunfeng Lin . Transdermal treatment for malignant melanoma by aptamer-modified tetrahedral framework nucleic acid delivery of vemurafenib. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(4): 108602-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108602
18. [18]
  Haijun Shen , Yi Qiao , Chun Zhang , Yane Ma , Jialing Chen , Yingying Cao , Wenna Zheng . A matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive hydrogel combined with photothermal therapy for transdermal delivery of deferoxamine to accelerate diabetic pressure ulcer healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(12): 110283-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110283
19. [19]
  Kaiyue Yang , Yifan Zhang , Shamei Luo , Chenxi Yu , Lin Chen , Qingyu Yu , Chenlu Huang , Guilei Ma , Linhua Zhang , Dunwan Zhu . Multifunctional nanoadjuvants-aided synergistic photothermal-immunotherapy of tumor. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(4): 112324-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112324
20. [20]
  Yilei Zhao , Guoxin Zhu , Xuechun Wang , Zilin Ma , Jie Yan , Songyan Li , Wen Zhao , Qingbin He , Jianwei Jiao , Guiqiang Zhang . In situ carrier-free nanovaccines reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment for boosting tumor immunotherapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 111031-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111031

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(7)
HTML views(0)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142