Abstract

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development.

Objective: In this study, polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-polyethylenimine (PEI) nanobubbles (NBs) carrying STAT6 siRNA were prepared and combined with ultrasound-mediated nanobubbles destruction (UMND) to silence the STAT6 gene, ultimately repolarizing TAMs from the M2 to the M1 phenotype, treating NSCLC in vitro.

Methods: PLGA-PEI NBs-siRNA were prepared and characterised, and their respective ultrasound imaging, biological stabilities and cytotoxicities were detected. Transfection efficiency was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Repolarization of THP-1-derived M2-like macrophages was determined by qPCR and flow cytometry. NSCLC cells (A549) were co-cultured with transfected M2-like macrophages or their associated conditioned medium (CM). Western blotting was used to detect STAT6 gene silencing in M2-like macrophages and markers of epithelial and mesenchymal in A549 cells. The proliferation of A549 cells was detected using CCK-8 and cell colony formation assays. Transwell assays were used to detect the migration and invasion of A549 cells.

Results: PLGA-PEI NBs-siRNA had an average size of 223.13 ± 0.92 nm and a zeta potential of about -5.59 ± 0.97 mV. PLGA-PEI NBs showed excellent ultrasonic imaging capability in addition to biological stability to protect siRNA from degradation. UMND enhanced PLGA-PEI NBs-STAT6 siRNA transfection in M2-like macrophages, which made M2-like macrophages repolarize to M1-like macrophages and prevented proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in A549 cells.

Conclusion: UMND enhanced PLGA-PEI NBs-STAT6 siRNA to repolarize TAMs from the M2 to the M1 phenotype, thus treating NSCLC. These findings provide a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing NSCLC immunotherapy.

Keywords: Tumor-associated macrophages, non-small cell lung cancer, STAT6 siRNA, ultrasound-mediated nanobubbles destruction, immunotherapy, M1 Phenotypes.