Mannosylated neutrophil vesicles targeting macrophages alleviate liver inflammation by delivering CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs

Background: Inflammation is a key driver of various liver diseases. NLRP3 inflammasome in hepatic macrophages is a key mediator of inflammation and has emerged as a promising target. Genome editing presents a powerful approach to modulate inflammation by directly disrupting genes such as NLRP3 directly. However, efficient and cell-specific delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) remains challenging. Methods: We developed a novel delivery system by encapsulating CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs within mannosylated neutrophil membranes vesicles (Cas9/gNLRP3@M-N) to enhance targeting hepatic macrophages. Results: Cas9/gNLRP3@M-N selectively accumulated in hepatic macrophages, effectively disrupted the NLRP3 gene, attenuated inflammation in acute fulminant hepatitis, and improved disease outcomes in chronic steatohepatitis model. Conclusions: Cas9/gNLRP3@M-N represents a promising targeted gene-editing approach for the treatment of inflammatory liver diseases.