A Carbon-Caged Rhodamine Generating Nitrosoperoxycarbonate for Photoimmunotherapy

Photoimmunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment modality. While potent 1-e⁻ oxidative species are known to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), they are also associated with unspecific oxidation and collateral tissue damage. This difficulty may be addressed by post-generation radical reinforcement. Namely, non-oxidative radicals are first generated and subsequently activated into powerful oxidative radicals to induce ICD. Here, we developed a photo-triggered molecular donor (NPCD565) of nitrosoperoxycarbonate (ONOOCO₂⁻), the first of its class to our knowledge, and further evaluated its feasibility for immunotherapy. Upon irradiation of NPCD565 by light within a broad spectral region from ultraviolet to red, ONOOCO₂⁻ is released along with a bright rhodamine dye (RD565), whose fluorescence is a reliable and convenient build-in reporter for the localization, kinetics, and dose of ONOOCO₂⁻ generation. Upon photolysis of NPCD565 in 4T1 cells, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) indicative of ICD were observed and confirmed to exhibit immunogenicity by induced maturation of dendritic cells. In vivo studies with a bilateral tumor-bearing mouse model showcased the potent tumor-killing capability of NPCD565 of the primary tumors and growth suppression of the distant tumors. This work unveils the potent immunogenicity of ONOOCO₂⁻, and its donor (NPCD565) has broad potential for photo-immunotherapy of cancer.