Excessive activation of inflammasomes is associated with various diseases, including gout, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. Given the pivotal role of macrophages in both inflammasome activation and nanoparticle phagocytosis, the discovery of anti-inflammatory nanoparticles specifically targeting macrophages could more effectively modulated inflammatory response while minimizing off-target effects in other cell types.
A study published in the journal National Science Review demonstrated that nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals exhibit remarkable efficacy in suppressing the activation of three inflammasomes, namely NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2, in primary macrophages. Subsequently, the researchers employed two disease models, colitis and acute peritonitis, to evaluate the impact of nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals on treating inflammasome overactivation.
The findings revealed that nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals effectively ameliorated disease symptoms in mice in the colitis model, including mitigating weight loss, restoring colon length, and alleviating damage to the intestinal mucosal epithelium. Furthermore, in the acute peritonitis model, these nanocrystals significantly attenuated neutrophil chemotaxis within the peritoneal cavity of mice.
To confirm whether nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals require cellular internalization to exert their anti-inflammatory effects, the authors performed experiments using a widely used endocytosis inhibitor, cytochalasin D. Treatment with cytochalasin D significantly reduced the internalization of nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals by macrophages.
Moreover, inhibiting the internalization of the nanocrystals by macrophages led to a decrease in their anti-inflammatory effects, indicating that the anti-inflammatory action of nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals relies on their cellular uptake.
To investigate whether the anti-inflammatory effects of nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals are attributed to their geometric morphology or elemental composition, the authors synthesized nickel nanoparticles and cobalt nanoparticles under identical conditions as controls, which exhibited distinct morphologies compared to the nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals. However, both nickel nanoparticles and cobalt nanoparticles also significantly inhibited inflammasome activation.
Therefore, the authors attributed the inhibitory effect of nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals to the elemental composition rather than their geometric shape. These findings suggest that nanomaterials containing nickel and cobalt may offer opportunities for designing nano-drugs with anti-inflammatory properties.
Revealing the biological mechanisms underlying the action of nanomaterials is crucial for their potential medical applications. However, elucidating the biological mechanism by which these broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory nanocrystals inhibit inflammasome activation poses significant challenges using conventional biological experimental approaches.
To address this, researchers conducted RNA sequencing and the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-Seq), leading to the identification of a previously reported non-coding RNA, Neat1, known to be involved in inflammasome assembly. Following treatment with the nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals, the expression of Neat1 was significantly reduced.
Previous studies have demonstrated that downregulating Neat1 expression alone significantly inhibits the activation of NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2 inflammasomes. ATAC-Seq results revealed a significant reduction in the chromatin accessibility of the gene body and promoter regions of Neat1 in the nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystal-treated group, suggesting that the inhibition of inflammasome activation by the nickel-cobalt alloy nanocrystals is achieved through the suppression of Neat1 transcription rather than promoting its degradation.
This study was collaboratively conducted by Dr. Shu-Hong Yu, Dr. Long-Ping Wen, and Dr. Kun Qu from the University of Science and Technology of China, together with Professor Yang Lu from Hefei University of Technology.
![](https://www.nanoappsmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/spacer.jpg)
News
Breakthrough in Antimicrobial Technology with Cinnamon-Based Nanokiller
The need for innovative antimicrobial agents has become increasingly urgent due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the persistent threat of infections acquired during hospital stays. Traditional antibiotics and antiseptics are often ineffective [...]
The Silent Battle Within: How Your Organs Choose Between Mom and Dad’s Genes
Research reveals that selective expression of maternal or paternal X chromosomes varies by organ, driven by cellular competition. A new study published today (July 26) in Nature Genetics by the Lymphoid Development Group at the MRC [...]
Study identifies genes increasing risk of severe COVID-19
Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in [...]
Small regions of the brain can take micro-naps while the rest of the brain is awake and vice versa
Sleep and wake: They're totally distinct states of being that define the boundaries of our daily lives. For years, scientists have measured the difference between these instinctual brain processes by observing brain waves, with [...]
Redefining Consciousness: Small Regions of the Brain Can Take Micro-Naps While the Rest of the Brain Is Awake
The study broadly reveals how fast brain waves, previously overlooked, establish fundamental patterns of sleep and wakefulness. Scientists have developed a new method to analyze sleep and wake states by detecting ultra-fast neuronal activity [...]
AI Reveals Health Secrets Through Facial Temperature Mapping
Researchers have found that different facial temperatures correlate with chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure, and these can be detected using AI with thermal cameras. They highlight the potential of this technology [...]
Breakthrough in aging research: Blocking IL-11 extends lifespan and improves health in mice
In a recent study published in the journal Nature, a team of researchers used murine models and various pharmacological and genetic approaches to examine whether pro-inflammatory signaling involving interleukin (IL)-11, which activates signaling molecules such [...]
Promise for a universal influenza vaccine: Scientists validate theory using 1918 flu virus
New research led by Oregon Health & Science University reveals a promising approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine—a so-called "one and done" vaccine that confers lifetime immunity against an evolving virus. The study, [...]
New Projects Aim To Pioneer the Future of Neuroscience
One study will investigate the alterations in brain activity at the cellular level caused by psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in “magic mushrooms.” How do neurons respond to the effects of magic mushrooms? What [...]
Decoding the Decline: Scientific Insights Into Long COVID’s Retreat
Research indicates a significant reduction in long COVID risk, largely due to vaccination and the virus’s evolution. The study analyzes data from over 441,000 veterans, showing lower rates of long COVID among vaccinated individuals compared [...]
Silicon Transformed: A Breakthrough in Laser Nanofabrication
A new method enables precise nanofabrication inside silicon using spatial light modulation and laser pulses, creating advanced nanostructures for potential use in electronics and photonics. Silicon, the cornerstone of modern electronics, photovoltaics, and photonics, [...]
Caught in the actinium: New research could help design better cancer treatments
The element actinium was first discovered at the turn of the 20th century, but even now, nearly 125 years later, researchers still don't have a good grasp on the metal's chemistry. That's because actinium [...]
Innovative Light-Controlled Drugs Could Revolutionize Neuropathic Pain Treatment
A team of researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has developed light-activated derivatives of the anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine to treat neuropathic pain. Light can be harnessed to target drugs to specific [...]
Green Gold: Turning E-Waste Into a Treasure Trove of Rare Earth Metals
Scientists are developing a process inspired by nature that efficiently recovers europium from old fluorescent lamps. The approach could lead to the long-awaited recycling of rare earth metals. A small molecule that naturally serves [...]
Cambridge Study: AI Chatbots Have an “Empathy Gap,” and It Could Be Dangerous
A new study suggests a framework for “Child Safe AI” in response to recent incidents showing that many children perceive chatbots as quasi-human and reliable. A study has indicated that AI chatbots often exhibit [...]
Nanoparticle-based delivery system could offer treatment for diabetics with rare insulin allergy
Up to 3% of people with diabetes have an allergic reaction to insulin. A team at Forschungszentrum Jülich has now studied a method that could be used to deliver the active substance into the [...]