A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A biocompatible copper based therapeutic nanoplatform for CD44 specific tumor targeted therapy and potent immune reprogramming; 
Authors: Fang, Yifeng; Tu, Mengyan; Tu, Xinru; Zhang, Hongbo; Li, Yangyang; Xu, Junfen
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Biomaterials
Article number: 124373
Volume: 335
ISSN: 0142-9612
eISSN: 1878-5905
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124373
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124373
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526947153
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Additional information: Data will be made available on request.
Despite advances in oncology, the dual challenge of achieving precise tumor-targeted therapy while simultaneously activating antitumor immunity remains a major clinical barrier. In this study, we engineered a biocompatible copper-based platform, hyaluronic acid (HA) modified Cu ions based therapeutic (B–Cu/HA), that integrates selective tumor targeting, intrinsic cytotoxicity, and immune activation within a single therapeutic system. Leveraging the HA-CD44 interaction, B–Cu/HA exhibited preferential accumulation and prolonged retention in CD44-overexpressing tumors, while maintaining an excellent biosafety profile. Across multiple cancer models, B–Cu/HA robustly inhibited tumor progression. Mechanistically, it induced cuproptosis through upregulation of FDX1 and aggregation of lipoylated DLAT, and triggered ROS-mediated activation of the cGAS–STING pathway, promoting immunogenic cell death. Transcriptomic analysis revealed activation of hypoxia and cytokine signaling pathways, aligning with enhanced CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity and remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment. The animal models studies demonstrated that B–Cu/HA significantly suppressed tumor growth without systemic toxicity, and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of the immune checkpoint inhibitors anti-TIGIT. Together, these findings establish B–Cu/HA as a multifunctional, immunomodulatory formulation that offers a clinically translatable strategy to enhance tumor immunotherapy and overcome resistance in CD44-overexpressing tumors.
Keywords:
CD44-medicated tumor targeting, cGAS-STING activation, copper-based therapeutic system, cuproptosis, immune checkpoint blockade synergy
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Funding information in the publication:
The study was supported by the Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. 2025ZD0545603 to J.X.), the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang (Grant No. 2026C02A1110 to J.X.), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82472891 to J.X.;82372145 to H.Z.), the Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. LZ24H160001 to J.X.; LBD24H180001 to H.Z.), and Medical Interdisciplinary Innovation Program 2024, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China (J.X.).