Reverse Lipid Droplet Function for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy

X Xuechao Cai (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) L Li Zhang R Ruicheng Shi (Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Academy for Engineering and Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China) Y Yurong Zhang (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) J Jieyun Shi (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) Y Yang Chen C Chaochao Wang Y Yi Dai L Lingjiang He (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) H Huiyan Li Z Zhixuan Qiu (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) X Xingwu Jiang (Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Academy for Engineering and Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China) J Jinghan Wang Y Yelin Wu (Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China) W Wenbo Bu (College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers)

Abstract

Abstract Lipid droplet (LD)‐mediated organelle interactions promote tumor progression and immune evasion in tumors, but directly targeting LD remains challenging. Here, we developed a strategy to reverse LD function for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) immunotherapy. We first established a positive correlation between LD‐related proteins and poor prognosis in HCC patients. We then engineered F127‐modified, linoleic acid (LA)‐capped copper MOF nanoparticles (LCMF NPs). These NPs are recognized by CD36 and internalized into LDs. Whereafter, copper ions catalyze surface LA into radicals via Fenton reaction, triggering a polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation cascade. This chemical reaction reverses the protective effect of LDs on organelles into an oxidative damage effect. Mechanistically, this process induces significant DNA damage, upregulating key immunogenic cell death markers HMGB1 and calreticulin. In vivo, reversing LD function reshapes the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and inhibits growth of both primary and distant tumors. Overall, this LD functional reversal strategy establishes LD‐organelle networks as viable immunotherapy targets and offers a promising approach for treating metastatic tumors via organelle‐level metabolic disruption.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 4
Published January 22, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

X

Xuechao Cai

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

L

Li Zhang

R

Ruicheng Shi

Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Academy for Engineering and Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China

Y

Yurong Zhang

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

J

Jieyun Shi

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

Y

Yang Chen

C

Chaochao Wang

Y

Yi Dai

L

Lingjiang He

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

H

Huiyan Li

Z

Zhixuan Qiu

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

X

Xingwu Jiang

Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Academy for Engineering and Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China

J

Jinghan Wang

Y

Yelin Wu

Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Shanghai East Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University Shanghai 200120 P. R. China

W

Wenbo Bu

College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers