The complete regression of
residual tumors after
photothermal therapy (PTT) depends on the activation and recognition of the immune system. However, the inevitable local
inflammation after PTT in
residual tumor recruits abundant abnormal immune cells, especially the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which further promote immune escape and survival of the remaining
tumor cells, resulting in the
tumor recurrence and progression. To solve this problem, herein we explored biomimetic nanoparticles carrying repolarization agent of TAMs to remodel the post-PTT inflammatory microenvironment. The
polydopamine nanoparticles were used simultaneously as photothermal transduction agents to ablate
tumor cells and the delivery vehicles for
TMP195 which can repolarize the M2-like TAMs into an antitumor phenotype. In addition, a biomimetic decoration of macrophage membrane coating was designed to endow nanoparticles the ability to actively target the
tumor site after PTT mediated by
inflammation-mediated chemotaxis. In the
breast tumor model, these biomimetic nanoparticles with immune-modulating ability significantly elevated the levels of M1-like TAMs, ultimately resulting in a
tumor-elimination rate of 60%, increased from 10% after PTT. This synergistic treatment strategy of PTT and TAMs repolarization provides a promising approach to address the deteriorated tumor microenvironment after PTT and proposes a more effective way for combinational treatment option in clinic.