Journal of Nanobiotechnology最新文献

Scavenging excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and positively improving intestinal dysbiosis is a promising therapeutic strategy for alleviating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, conventional clinical drugs and probiotic-based adjuvant therapies often fail to achieve satisfactory results due to systemic side effects of drugs, low bioactivity of probiotics, short intestinal retention time, and poor targeting ability. To address these challenges, we developed an antioxidant-functionalized curcumin loaded nanocomposite inulin hydrogel for targeted IBD therapy. In this system, curcumin was encapsulated within chitosan-coated Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA nanoparticles, which not only exhibited excellent ROS-scavenging capacity but also demonstrated the enhanced cellular uptake behavior. In a dextran sulfate sodium induced ulcerative colitis mouse model, the nanocomposite hydrogel significantly prolonged the intestinal retention time of curcumin, thereby suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and promoting the recovery of intestinal barrier and microbial diversity. This study has developed a synergistic therapeutic strategy via combining anti-inflammatory effects with gut microbiota regulation, offering a novel therapeutic approach for the clinical management of colitis.

The early and accurate diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a significant clinical challenge. To this end, we profiled the surface proteome of individual plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) from AMI patients using single-vesicle sequencing, aiming to identify disease-associated alterations with diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Profiling the EV surface proteome across healthy controls (HC), coronary artery stenosis (CAS), and AMI revealed 21 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), 11 of which were uniquely associated with AMI compared to HC. Notably, these included elevated levels of DSCAML1, CR1, ACE2, FN1, CDH15, and C5b‑9. EVs were subsequently stratified into 17 subpopulations, with clusters 1, 8, and 9 characterized by DSCAML1, ALCAM, and CR1, respectively, and showing the highest enrichment in AMI. We further demonstrated that plasma EVs from AMI patients (AMI-EVs) promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and endothelial cell activity in vitro, followed by the finding that the DSCAML1-enriched subpopulation (DSCAML1-EVs) enhances myocardial repair and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, with mechanistic studies implicating the EREG/ERK pathway in these effects. In summary, DSCAML1-positive EVs show dual potential as both a diagnostic biomarker for AMI and a therapeutic target for improving post‑infarction prognosis, providing insight into the translational potential of EV‑based strategies in precision cardiology.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus skin infections represent a persistent clinical challenge owing to their high pathogenicity, multidrug resistance, and biofilm-associated recurrence, which collectively impair antibiotic penetration and exacerbate host inflammation. Emodin, a natural anthraquinone with dual antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, has shown therapeutic promise but suffers from poor solubility, rapid clearance, and a lack of pathogen specificity, limiting its translational potential. Here, we developed a multifunctional nanoplatform composed of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs), in which Emodin was noncovalently loaded onto a DNA scaffold to enable sustained release, and a Staphylococcus aureus-specific aptamer was displayed to enable targeted bacterial recognition. Notably, this aptamer-guided design is pathogen oriented, aiming for bacteria-associated enrichment in infected wounds rather than targeting host inflammatory markers or specific immune cell subsets.

Results: This system markedly potentiated the antibacterial efficacy of Emodin against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), significantly inhibited biofilm formation, and disrupted mature biofilms. In murine infection models, the Apt-tFNAs-Emo reduced the bacterial burden, alleviated oxidative stress and TLR4/NF-κB activation, suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production, and accelerated wound healing by restoring collagen deposition and epidermal architecture.

Conclusions: Overall, this study establishes an aptamer-targeted nucleic acid nanoplatform that integrates antimicrobial delivery, biofilm disruption, and host immunomodulation, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for multidrug-resistant S. aureus skin infections.

The multifaceted pathogenesis and multi-cellular involvement of diabetic nephropathy (DN) stand in stark contrast to the inadequacy of conventional single-target therapeutic strategies. This disparity underscores the urgent need for novel drugs with comprehensive targeting capabilities. Herein, the SREBP cleavage-activating protein/sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SCAP/SREBPs) pathway was identified as a central driver in DN, where its activation in key renal parenchymal cells promotes lipid metabolic disorders and inflammation, thereby exacerbating renal injury. Guided by this discovery, we screened a 245-member nanoparticle library comprising SCAP inhibitors self-assembled with chitosan, and identified chitosan-lycorine nanoparticles (CLNPs) as the optimal candidate. Owing to its efficient intestinal absorption and significant accumulation in mesangial and proximal tubular epithelial cells, oral CLNPs strongly alleviated renal injury in a murine model of DN by counteracting lipid accumulation and inflammation, consistent with SCAP/SREBPs pathway inhibition. Critically, CLNPs prevented hepatotoxicity from free lycorine, which reduced mortality and enabled safer prolonged therapy. Together, our findings demonstrate the viability of CLNPs for DN, thereby offering a generalizable strategy for combating complex diseases through a single combinatorial agent that counters multiple co-existing pathological injuries.

Plant-derived nanocarriers (PDNs) constitute a heterogeneous family of bioinspired delivery platforms, including plant-derived extracellular vesicles, lipid-based nanovectors, and plant viral nanoparticles, that have attracted growing interest for applications in diseases constrained by biological barriers. A critical challenge in this field is distinguishing descriptive reports of barrier interaction from mechanistically and translationally meaningful evidence. This review provides a structured synthesis of plant-derived nanocarriers through a barrier-defined framework, rather than a platform-centric catalog, to clarify where and how these systems may add value relative to established nanomedicine approaches. We examine three exemplar contexts in which delivery barriers dominate therapeutic failure: central nervous system tumors, where the relevant interface is often the blood-tumor barrier rather than an intact blood-brain barrier; metabolic steatotic liver disease, governed by oral exposure and the gut-liver axis; and radiation-induced intestinal injury, characterized by epithelial disruption, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signaling. Across these settings, we differentiate intrinsic bioactivity of plant-derived carriers from engineered payload delivery, and critically assess the experimental models, routes of administration, and readouts used to support claims of tissue access and efficacy. Importantly, we highlight recurring methodological limitations, including heterogeneous isolation workflows, labeling artifacts, and overgeneralization from disease-compromised barriers, and align terminology with current extracellular vesicle reporting guidance. Beyond biological performance, we evaluate translational constraints, including pharmacokinetics, mononuclear phagocyte system clearance, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory classification ambiguity. By integrating mechanistic evidence with barrier context and translational readiness, this review reframes plant-derived nanocarriers not as universally superior delivery systems, but as context-dependent platforms whose utility depends on matching carrier class, route, and disease biology. This synthesis aims to extract actionable design principles while delineating the evidentiary gaps that must be addressed before clinical translation.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a challenging hematologic malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Here, we report the development of a multifunctional, pH-responsive, and biodegradable nanoparticle system, Membrane/Cu-HMPB@DSF/RSL3, for synergistic AML therapy. Constructed upon the Prussian blue-based frameworks and cloaked with leukemia cell membranes, these nanoparticles preferentially accumulate in AML cells and release copper, iron, and manganese ions, along with disulfiram (DSF) and RSL3, under mildly acidic intracellular conditions. The released metal ions catalyze Fenton-like reactions, deplete intracellular glutathione (GSH), and induce ferroptosis and cuproptosis in cooperation with the loaded small-molecule drugs. Meanwhile, manganese ions activate the cGAS-STING pathway, triggering innate immune responses and promoting immune cell recruitment. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated robust anti-AML efficacy with minimal systemic toxicity. This work presents a modular and immunogenic nanoplatform that holds broad potential for AML treatment and beyond.

Inflammatory diseases remain a major clinical challenge due to their complex pathologies and the limitations of current anti-inflammatory therapies. Conventional treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and biologics, often provide incomplete relief and cause significant side effects, creating an urgent need for safer, more effective interventions. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs)-natural nanocarriers with inherent biocompatibility and cross-kingdom regulatory capacity-have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach that could address these shortcomings by safely delivering anti-inflammatory signals across species boundaries. This review examines PDEVs as both therapeutic tools and targets in inflammatory diseases, delineating their unique properties, anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and translational potential. Key topics include the biogenesis, composition, and isolation of PDEVs; their multifaceted roles in modulating immune responses; and evidence of efficacy in various models of inflammatory disease. Collectively, current findings indicate that PDEVs represent biocompatible, multi-target agents that effectively attenuate inflammation and promote tissue repair by overcoming the barriers to drug delivery and toxicity limitations of conventional therapies. Ongoing advances in omics technologies and bioengineering are expected to advance the characterization and engineering of PDEVs, fostering their integration into precision medicine approaches. Addressing challenges such as large-scale manufacturing, targeting specificity, and regulatory standardization will be crucial for translating PDEVs into safe, personalized anti-inflammatory therapies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent and progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by behavioral abnormalities, memory loss, and cognitive decline, presenting significant challenges for early diagnosis and effective treatment. Given the multifactorial pathology of AD and the limited efficacy of conventional approaches, nanotechnology-based strategies have attracted increasing attention as promising solutions to address these unmet clinical needs. Nanomaterials offer distinct advantages for the sensitive and selective detection of AD-related biomarkers due to their high specific surface area, variable surface functions, and capacity to cross biological barriers. This review discusses recent advances in sensing and imaging technologies for AD detection via nanotechnology. Beyond diagnostics, nanomaterials also hold significant therapeutic potential. A variety of nanosystems have been developed to improve drug solubility, promote blood-brain barrier penetration, and achieve controlled or stimulus-responsive drug release. This review presents a comprehensive landscape of recent advances in nano-enabled targeting techniques, with a focus on the target therapy of neuron, microglia, astrocyte, Aβ, Tau, mitochondria and iron. Moreover, the designs of multifunctional nanostructures has enabled synergistic multi-target therapies, which concurrently modulate several pathological pathways. These integrated strategies that integrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aggregative, and neuroprotective mechanisms represent a new paradigm for personalized and precision nanomedicine in AD management.

Ulcerative colitis remains a challenging clinical condition due to its complex etiology and the limitations of current therapies. Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PDELNs) represent a new class of natural nanotherapeutics with significant potential for ulcerative colitis treatment. These nanoparticles exhibit high biocompatibility, the ability to cross biological barriers, and carry a rich cargo of bioactive molecules. This review synthesizes progress in PDELN research over the past decade, focusing on established preparation methods and their multi-targeted therapeutic mechanisms. The current isolation methods of the anti-colitis PDELNs are mainly various types of centrifugation, including ultracentrifugation, differential centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation and their combination. Therapeutically, PDELNs alleviate colitis through potent anti-inflammatory effects, gut microbiota remodeling, and immune response regulation. These effects are attributed to key bioactive components such as plant microRNAs, metabolites, and lipids. Notably, PDELNs demonstrate an excellent safety profile without reported toxicity. Their natural origin, multi-targeted mechanisms, and favorable biosafety profile make PDELNs a promising next-generation therapeutic candidate against colitis, effectively bridging traditional phytotherapy and modern nanomedicine.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women worldwide and continues posing a major threat to global health. Current clinical treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and endocrine therapy. However, these strategies are frequently limited by challenges such as drug resistance, elevated toxicity, adverse effects, and inadequate modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent developments in nanotechnology have enabled the application of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems that significantly improve delivery efficiency and biocompatibility, reduce drug toxicity and side effects, and demonstrate potential anticancer effects by modulating the TME. Hydrogels, a class of drug carriers, are characterized by a three-dimensional polymer network with high water absorption and retention capacity. Owing to their favorable biocompatibility, degradability, tissue-like physical properties, environmental responsiveness, and functional flexibility, hydrogels have been extensively utilized in biomedical applications, including bone regeneration, wound healing, antibacterial treatments, biosensing, and tumor therapy. Despite these advantages, hydrogels and nanomaterials still confront significant challenges when applied in breast cancer therapy. The integration of functional nanomaterials into the hydrogel matrix can form a novel multifunctional system. This transformation allows hydrogels to serve as targeted delivery platforms for anticancer nanodrugs, enabling synergistic therapeutic effects. This systematic review summarizes recent advances in hydrogel-based nanomaterials for breast cancer therapy, with emphasis on design strategies, mechanisms of action, and immunomodulatory applications. It also critically discusses current limitations and prospects of hydrogel-based nanomaterials. The objective of this review is to help lower interdisciplinary barriers and accelerate the clinical translation of hydrogel-based technologies toward safer, more personalized breast cancer treatments.