Photoreceptor-targeted engineered exosomes encapsulating black phosphorus quantum dots for alleviating photoreceptor
Jia Liang1, Xiangqing Hei1,2, Lu Chen1
1Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Medical Center, Southern Medical University, 18 Zetian Road, Shenzhen, 518040, Guangdong, China.
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Photoreceptor degeneration is a major cause of irreversible visual impairment worldwide, most notably in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Here, we developed a dual-targeted therapeutic nanoplatform by loading black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) into human dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hDPSC-Exos) and surface-modifying with cell-penetrating peptide transactivated transcription (TAT) and photoreceptor-specific peptide MH42, namely TAT/MH42-engineered black phosphorus quantum dot-loaded exosomes (M/T-BPQD@Exos). M/T-BPQD@Exos showed typical exosomal morphology and good uniformity. In vitro, M/T-BPQD@Exos effectively protected 661 W photoreceptor cells against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) injury. In vivo, M/T-BPQD@Exos specifically accumulated in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and significantly preserved retinal structure and visual function in MNU-induced photoreceptor degeneration rats. Biosafety assessment confirmed no obvious systemic toxicity and inflammation. Mechanistically, M/T-BPQD@Exos alleviated calcium overload, maintained mitochondrial integrity, and suppressed mitochondrial apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3. This study provides a safe and precise strategy for photoreceptor protection in retinal degenerative diseases.
