Exploiting the protein corona: coating of black phosphorus nanosheets enables macrophage polarization via calcium influx
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Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Polarization and Characterization of M1 and M2 Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages on Implant Surfaces
Published on: December 6, 2024
Jianbin Mo1, Yun Xu, Xiuxiu Wang
1State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 201193, China. jingzhao@nju.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) have substantially promoted biomedical nanotechnology due to their unique photothermal and chemotherapeutic properties. However, there is still a limited molecular understanding of the effects of bio-nano interfaces on BPNSs and the subsequent impacts on physiological systems. Here, it is shown that black phosphorus-corona complexes (BPCCs) could function as immune modulators to promote the polarization of macrophages. Mechanistically, BPCCs could interact with calmodulin to activate stromal interaction molecule 2 and facilitate Ca2+ influx in macrophages, which induced the activation of p38 and NF-κB and polarized M0 macrophages to the M1 phenotype. As a result, BPCC-activated macrophages show greater migration towards cancer cells, 1.3-1.9 times higher cellular cytotoxicity and effective phagocytosis of cancer cells. These findings offer insights into the development of potential and unique applications of corona on BPNSs in nanomedicine.
