Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Morphological and Compositional Analysis of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Induced by Microbial and Chemical Stimuli
Published on: November 4, 2022
Augmenting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps with Carbonized Polymer Dots: A Potential Treatment for Bacterial Sepsis
Chin-Jung Lin1, Tsong-Long Hwang2,3,4,5, Robert Y L Wang6
1Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can progress to septic shock as the body's extreme response to pathogenesis damages its own vital organs. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) accounts for 50% of nosocomial infections, which are clinically treated with antibiotics. However, methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) have emerged and can withstand harsh antibiotic treatment. To address this problem, curcumin (CCM) is employed to prepare carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) through mild pyrolysis. Contrary to curcumin, the as-formed CCM-CPDs are highly biocompatible and soluble in aqueous solution. Most importantly, the CCM-CPDs induce the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) from the neutrophils, which entrap and eliminate microbes. In an MRSA-induced septic mouse model, it is observed that CCM-CPDs efficiently suppress bacterial colonization. Moreover, the intrinsic antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulation activities resulting from the preserved functional groups of the precursor molecule on the CCM-CPDs prevent progression to severe sepsis. As a result, infected mice treated with CCM-CPDs show a significant decrease in mortality even through oral administration. Histological staining indicates negligible organ damage in the MRSA-infected mice treated with CCM-CPDs. It is believed that the in vivo studies presented herein demonstrate that multifunctional therapeutic CPDs hold great potential against life-threatening infectious diseases.
Insights
Curcumin-derived carbonized polymer dots (CCM-CPDs) offer a novel treatment for sepsis. These dots combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and reduce organ damage, significantly lowering mortality in mouse models.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection.
- Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and sepsis.
- Current antibiotic treatments face challenges due to emerging antibiotic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel therapeutic agent for sepsis using curcumin-derived carbonized polymer dots (CCM-CPDs).
- To investigate the efficacy of CCM-CPDs in combating MRSA infections and preventing sepsis progression.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and multifunctional therapeutic properties of CCM-CPDs.
Main Methods:
- Curcumin (CCM) was pyrolyzed to create carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), forming CCM-CPDs.
- CCM-CPDs were characterized for biocompatibility and aqueous solubility.
- The ability of CCM-CPDs to induce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was assessed.
- An MRSA-induced septic mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of CCM-CPDs.
- In vivo studies assessed bacterial suppression, prevention of sepsis progression, mortality rates, and organ damage.
Main Results:
- CCM-CPDs are highly biocompatible and soluble in aqueous solutions.
- CCM-CPDs effectively induce the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to entrap and eliminate microbes.
- In a septic mouse model, CCM-CPDs suppressed MRSA colonization and prevented progression to severe sepsis.
- CCM-CPDs possess intrinsic antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulation activities.
- Oral administration of CCM-CPDs significantly reduced mortality and prevented organ damage in infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Multifunctional CCM-CPDs demonstrate significant therapeutic potential against life-threatening infectious diseases like sepsis.
- CCM-CPDs offer a promising alternative treatment strategy, particularly against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
- The inherent properties of CCM-CPDs, including NET induction and organ protection, highlight their broad applicability in nanomedicine.
More Related Videos
07:36Author Spotlight: Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Imaging in Human and Mouse Tissues
Published on: August 18, 2023
11:32Real-Time, High-Throughput Microscopic Quantification of Human Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Release and Assessing the Pharmacology of Antagonists
Published on: October 18, 2024