Targeting TNFAIP2 with NIR-II CRISPR-Cas9 nanosystem to overcome cisplatin resistance in laryngeal cancer

Cisplatin resistance is a major challenge in laryngeal cancer treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2) has been implicated in chemoresistance, though its role in laryngeal cancer remains unclear. We identified TNFAIP2 as a key gene associated with cisplatin resistance and developed a second near-infrared (NIR-II) light-responsive CRISPR-Cas9 nanosystem (APC@RBCs) to target it. In cisplatin-resistant Tu177/CDDP cells, light-activated knockout of TNFAIP2 significantly increased cisplatin sensitivity (IC50 reduced from 12.55 to 4.37 µg/mL). Mechanistic studies revealed that TNFAIP2 modulates cisplatin resistance via the NRF2 pathway, affecting oxidative stress response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. TNFAIP2 deletion also suppressed cancer cell migration and invasion. Our results establish TNFAIP2 as a critical mediator of chemoresistance and demonstrate the potential of APC@RBCs as a precise, non-invasive gene therapy platform. This strategy offers a promising approach to overcoming cisplatin resistance and improving treatment outcomes in laryngeal cancer patients.