Biophysical reprogramming of immunosuppressive neutrophils by cold atmospheric plasma reinvigorates antitumor immunity.

Authors

Ganyu Wang, Zhiwei Cui, Xin Jiang, Ying Sun, Yifan Liu, Xinyuan Li, Wushan Li, Ruirui Sun, Xuemei Liu, Nengwang Yu, Xiaolong Wang, Benkang Shi, Weiqiang Jing

Published in

Science advances. Volume 12. Issue 32. Pages eaee2483. Aug 07, 2026. Epub Aug 05, 2026.

Abstract

Neutrophils are increasingly recognized as key orchestrators of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, yet their intrinsic plasticity, short lifespan and resistance to genetic manipulation have impeded therapeutic targeting. Here, we report a non-pharmacological, biophysical immunomodulatory strategy based on cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to reprogram tumor-associated neutrophils and restore antitumor immunity. We show that CAP simultaneously delivers reactive oxygen species and redox cues that inhibit mitophagy, thereby restoring mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative metabolism in neutrophils. This metabolic reinstatement drives a shift from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory phenotypes. In both syngeneic and humanized bladder cancer models, intravesical CAP reshapes the myeloid landscape, enhances T cell infiltration, suppresses tumor progression, and sensitizes tumors to PD-1 blockade. These findings establish CAP as a locoregional, drug-free biophysical modality capable of overcoming neutrophil-mediated immune suppression and provide a materials-based framework for modulating innate immunity in solid tumors.

PMID:
42555723
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Aug 2026.

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