Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:43
Microfluidic Approach to Resolve Simultaneous and Sequential Cytokine Secretion of Individual Polyfunctional Cells
Published on: March 8, 2024
Reverse-Engineered Lipid Nanoparticles Harness Protein Corona Formation for Cytokine Sequestration and Combination
Junsik J Sung1, Gargi Yogesh Digholkar1, Ryan M Pearson1,2,3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed triglyceride-ceramide lipid nanoparticles (TCNP) to neutralize harmful cytokines in inflammatory diseases. This novel nanoplatform sequesters multiple inflammatory mediators and delivers dexamethasone, improving survival in preclinical models.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanomedicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Sepsis and systemic inflammatory diseases involve dangerous cytokine storms leading to organ damage and mortality.
- Current treatments struggle to eliminate pathological cytokines without causing immunosuppression, toxicity, or off-target effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel nanoplatform for broad sequestration of pathological cytokines.
- To integrate extracellular cytokine scavenging with intracellular immunomodulation for enhanced anti-inflammatory therapy.
Main Methods:
- Lipidomic insights guided the reverse-engineering of triglyceride-ceramide lipid nanoparticles (TCNP).
- TCNPs were engineered for multimodal protein corona formation to adsorb and neutralize multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Dexamethasone (Dex) was encapsulated within TCNPs for combined extracellular and intracellular immunomodulation.
Main Results:
- TCNPs selectively reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and suppressed NF-κB activation.
- TCNPs increased regulatory IL-10 levels.
- In vivo studies showed Dex-loaded TCNP attenuated systemic inflammation, preserved organ integrity, and improved survival in a lethal endotoxemia model.
Conclusions:
- TCNP is a bioinspired nanotherapeutic platform for systemic inflammatory diseases.
- This dual-function platform integrates extracellular cytokine sequestration with intracellular drug delivery.
- TCNP overcomes limitations of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies by combining broad cytokine scavenging and targeted immunomodulation.
Related Concept Videos
02:50Conjugated Proteins
Simple proteins and protein complexes contain only amino acids. In contrast, many other proteins, called conjugated proteins, covalently bond with non-protein moieties.
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...
01:30Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...