Remodeling Tumor Vasculature to Enhance Delivery of Intermediate-Sized Nanoparticles

Restoration of dysfunctional tumor vasculature can reestablish the pressure gradient between intravascular and interstitial space that is essential for transporting nanomedicines into solid tumors. Morphologic and functional normalization of tumor vessels improves tissue perfusion to facilitate intratumoral nanoparticle delivery. However, this remodeling process also reduces tumor vessel permeability, which can impair nanoparticle transport. Although nanoparticles sized below 10 nm maximally benefited from tumor vessel normalization therapy for enhanced nanomedicine delivery, the small particle size severely limits its applicability. Here, we show that intermediate-sized nanoparticles (20-40 nm) can also benefit from tumor vasculature remodeling. We demonstrate that a window of opportunity exists for a two-stage transport strategy of different nanoparticle sizes. Overall, tumor vessel remodeling enhances the transvascular delivery of intermediate-size nanoparticles of up to 40 nm. Once within the tumor matrix, however, smaller nanoparticles experience a significantly lesser degree of diffusional hindrance, resulting in a more homogeneous distribution within the tumor interstitium. These findings suggest that antiangiogenic therapy and nanoparticle design can be combined in a multistage fashion, with two sets of size-inclusion criteria, to achieve optimal nanomedicine delivery into solid tumors.