%0 Journal Article %T ROS-responsive core-shell nano-inhibitor impedes pyruvate metabolism for reinforced photodynamic therapy and interrupted pre-metastatic niche formation. %A Lv M %A Zhao B %A Zhang J %A Miao G %A Wei S %A Tang Y %A Liu X %A Qian H %A Huang D %A Chen W %A Zhong Y %J Acta Biomater %V 182 %N 0 %D 2024 07 1 %M 38729547 %F 10.633 %R 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.016 %X The formation of pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in a hospitable organ derived from the primary tumor requires the communication between the tumor cells and the host environment. Pyruvate is a fundamental nutrient by which the tumor cells metabolically reshape the extracellular matrix in the lung to facilitate their own metastatic development. Here we report a combination regimen by integrating the photo-sensitizer and the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) inhibitor in a dendritic polycarbonate core-hyaluronic acid shell nano-platform with multivalent reversible crosslinker embedded in it (DOH-NI+L) to reinforce photodynamic therapy (PDT) toward the primary tumor and interrupt PMN formation in the lung via impeding pyruvate uptake. We show that DOH-NI+L mediates tumor-specific MPC inhibitor liberation, inhibiting the aerobic respiration for facilitated PDT and restraining ATP generation for paralyzing cell invasion. Remarkably, DOH-NI+L is demonstrated to block the metabolic crosstalk of tumor cell-host environment by dampening pyruvate metabolism, provoking a series of metabolic responses and resulting in the pulmonary PMN interruption. Consequently, DOH-NI+L realizes a significant primary tumor inhibition and an efficient pulmonary metastasis prevention. Our research extends nano-based anti-metastatic strategies aiming at PMN intervention and such a dendritic core-shell nano-inhibitor provides an innovative paradigm to inhibit tumor growth and prevent metastasis efficiently. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In the progression of cancer metastasis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in a hospitable organ derived from the primary tumor is one of the rate-limiting stages. The current nano-based anti-metastatic modalities mainly focus on targeted killing of tumor cells and specific inhibition of tumor cell invasion, while nanomedicine-mediated interruption of PMN formation has been rarely reported. Here we report a combination regimen by integrating a photo-sensitizer and an inhibitor of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in a dendritic core-shell nano-platform with a reversible crosslinker embedded in it to reinforce PDT toward the primary tumor and interrupt PMN formation via impeding the uptake of pyruvate that is a fundamental nutrient facilitating aerobic respiration and PMN formation. Our research proposed a nano-based anti-metastatic strategy aiming at PMN intervention.