Nanomaterial‐Mediated Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Breaking Immunosuppression and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

ABSTRACT Malignant tumors remain a leading cause of global mortality. Radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy are established cornerstone therapies for most solid cancers. Their combination, radio‐immunotherapy (IRT), has demonstrated robust synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical models and early‐phase clinical trials. However, broader clinical implementation is hindered by intrinsic or acquired radioresistance, systemic toxicities with overlapping organ tropism, and a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To address these limitations, this review presents a mechanistically integrated framework centered on nanomaterial‐enabled strategies: targeted radiosensitization coupled with enhanced immunogenic cell death (ICD); spatiotemporally controlled remodeling of the TIME to counteract immunosuppression; and multifunctional, imaging‐guided theranostic platforms for precision IRT delivery and response monitoring. We systematically synthesize recent preclinical advances in nanomaterial‐enhanced IRT—including applications across conventional X‐ray, proton beam, photothermal, and sonodynamic irradiation—and critically evaluate early‐phase clinical data for representative nanotherapeutics (NBTXR3 and AGuIX). Furthermore, we identify and analyze key translational bottlenecks impeding clinical adoption, including scalability, regulatory pathway clarity, and biomarker‐driven patient selection. Collectively, this review provides a unified, mechanism‐informed foundation to advance rational nanomaterial design and evidence‐based clinical translation, thereby strengthening the scientific basis for precision oncology in patients with refractory solid tumors.

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Publication Details

Journal
MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications
Published
2026-07-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70058
Primary Topic
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
Type
article
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article

Nanomaterial‐Mediated Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Breaking Immunosuppression and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

Xiangqin Wang, Sisi He, Hu Ma, Peijie Li
MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
article

Nanomaterial‐Mediated Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Breaking Immunosuppression and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

Xiangqin Wang, Sisi He, Hu Ma, Peijie Li
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Malignant tumors remain a leading cause of global mortality. Radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy are established cornerstone therapies for most solid cancers. Their combination, radio‐immunotherapy (IRT), has demonstrated robust synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical models and early‐phase clinical trials. However, broader clinical implementation is hindered by intrinsic or acquired radioresistance, systemic toxicities with overlapping organ tropism, and a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To address these limitations, this review presents a mechanistically integrated framework centered on nanomaterial‐enabled strategies: targeted radiosensitization coupled with enhanced immunogenic cell death (ICD); spatiotemporally controlled remodeling of the TIME to counteract immunosuppression; and multifunctional, imaging‐guided theranostic platforms for precision IRT delivery and response monitoring. We systematically synthesize recent preclinical advances in nanomaterial‐enhanced IRT—including applications across conventional X‐ray, proton beam, photothermal, and sonodynamic irradiation—and critically evaluate early‐phase clinical data for representative nanotherapeutics (NBTXR3 and AGuIX). Furthermore, we identify and analyze key translational bottlenecks impeding clinical adoption, including scalability, regulatory pathway clarity, and biomarker‐driven patient selection. Collectively, this review provides a unified, mechanism‐informed foundation to advance rational nanomaterial design and evidence‐based clinical translation, thereby strengthening the scientific basis for precision oncology in patients with refractory solid tumors.

MedComm – Biomaterials and ApplicationsVol. 5(3)
Zunyi Medical University (CN), First People’s Hospital of Zunyi (CN)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
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Nanomaterial‐Mediated Radiotherapy–Immunotherapy Combinations: Breaking Immunosuppression and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment — Xiangqin Wang, Sisi He, et al. · MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS