# A Supramolecular Nanoscavengers: Based “Cargo‐Exchange” Breaking Cholesterol Metabolic Dysregulation for Glioblastoma Therapy

**Authors:** Zonghua Tian, Yun Chen, Jingyi Zhou, Shilin Zhang, Hongrui Fan, Xuwen Li, Tao Sun, Chen Jiang

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/advs.202519690 · Advanced Science · 2025-11-20

## TL;DR

Researchers developed supramolecular nanoscavengers that target cholesterol metabolism in glioblastoma, offering a new therapeutic strategy.

## Contribution

A novel supramolecular nanoscavenger system that disrupts cholesterol metabolism in glioblastoma through competitive displacement.

## Key findings

- Supramolecular nanoscavengers effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation and invasion by clearing cholesterol.
- The nanoscavengers remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by interfering with cholesterol-related metabolic crosstalk.
- The system enables efficient delivery to the central nervous system due to dynamic host-guest interactions.

## Abstract

Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism, driven by a complex array of mechanisms, is a defining characteristic of glioblastoma (GBM) and plays a crucial role in the development of resistance to therapeutic interventions. In this study, supramolecular nanoscavengers are engineered by harnessing the intrinsic binding affinity between endogenous small‐molecule cholesterol and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). This host‐guest interaction enabled both targeted drug release and cholesterol clearance through competitive displacement within the cholesterol‐rich microenvironment of GBM. Consequently, tumor‐associated cholesterol dysregulation is effectively disrupted, resulting in significant inhibition of cellular proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, the supramolecular nanoscavengers interfered with the metabolic crosstalk between tumor cells and immune cells involving cholesterol, thereby remodeling the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and demonstrating substantial therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Additionally, the dynamic and reversible binding between β‐CD and various guest molecules facilitated efficient delivery of the supramolecular host to the central nervous system (CNS). Collectively, these findings presented a promising strategy for targeting cholesterol as an intervention in the treatment of GBM as well as other CNS disorders associated with altered cholesterol metabolism.

Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism, driven by a complex array of mechanisms, is a defining characteristic of glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, supramolecular nanoscavengers are engineered by harnessing the intrinsic binding affinity between endogenous small‐molecule cholesterol and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). This host‐guest interaction enabled both targeted drug release and cholesterol clearance through competitive displacement within the cholesterol‐rich microenvironment of GBM.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** cholesterol (PubChem CID 5997), β-cyclodextrin (PubChem CID 444041)
- **Diseases:** glioblastoma (MONDO:0018177), GBM (MONDO:0018177)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** tumor (MESH:D009369), CNS disorders (MESH:D002493), GBM (MESH:D005909)
- **Chemicals:** beta-CD (MESH:C031215), Cholesterol (MESH:D002784)

## Full text

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## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12866777/full.md

## References

48 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12866777/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12866777