An Efficient Fabrication Approach for Multi-Cancer Responsive Chemoimmuno Co-Delivery Nanoparticles

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, with breast, liver, and pancreatic cancers significantly contributing to this burden. Traditional treatments face issues including dose-limiting toxicity, drug resistance, and limited efficacy. Combining therapeutic agents can enhance effectiveness and reduce toxicity, but separate administration often leads to inefficiencies due to differing pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Co-formulating hydrophobic chemotherapeutics such as paclitaxel (PTX) and hydrophilic immunologic agents such as polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly IC) is particularly challenging due to their distinct physicochemical properties. This study presents a novel and efficient approach for the co-delivery of PTX and Poly IC using chitosan-based nanoparticles. <b>Method:</b> Chitosan-PEG (CP) nanoparticles were developed to encapsulate both PTX and Poly IC, overcoming their differing physicochemical properties and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. <b>Results</b>: With an average size of ~100 nm, these nanoparticles facilitate efficient cellular uptake and stability. In vitro results showed that CP-PTX-Poly IC nanoparticles significantly reduced cancer cell viability in breast (4T1), liver (HepG2), and pancreatic (Pan02) cancer types, while also enhancing dendritic cell (DC) maturation. <b>Conclusions</b>: This dual-modal delivery system effectively combines chemotherapy and immunotherapy, offering a promising solution for more effective cancer treatment and improved outcomes.