Application of Carbon Nanomaterials to Enhancing Tumor Immunotherapy: Current Advances and Prospects

Int J Nanomedicine. 2024 Oct 26:19:10899-10915. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S480799. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Recent advances in tumor immunotherapy have highlighted the pivotal role of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon dots, graphene quantum dots, and carbon nanotubes. This review examines the unique benefits of these materials in cancer treatment, focusing on their mechanisms of action within immunotherapy. These include applications in immunoregulation, recognition, and enhancement. We explore how these nanomaterials when combined with specific biomolecules, can form immunosensors. These sensors are engineered for highly sensitive and specific detection of tumor markers, offering crucial support for early diagnosis and timely therapeutic interventions. This review also addresses significant challenges facing carbon nanomaterials in clinical settings, such as issues related to long-term biocompatibility and the hurdles of clinical translation. These challenges require extensive ongoing research and discussion. This review is of both theoretical and practical importance, aiming to promote using carbon nanomaterials in tumor immunotherapy, potentially transforming clinical outcomes and enhancing patient care.

Keywords: carbon nanoparticles; drug delivery; immune cell; immunosensors; tumor immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon* / chemistry
  • Graphite* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanotubes, Carbon* / chemistry
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Quantum Dots / chemistry

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Graphite
  • Carbon

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 22222611, 22076212 and 82003410), Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS (2021040).