Nanomedicine Approaches to Inflammation Modulation in Acute Lung Injury
Summary
Acute lung injury (ALI) represents a critical inflammatory condition characterised by rapid onset of pulmonary oedema, epithelial damage and impaired gas exchange. Conventional therapies have limited efficacy in halting the cascade of immune cell activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS)–mediated tissue injury that underpin disease progression. Nanomedicine offers precise tools to modulate inflammation by targeting key cellular and molecular drivers. Engineered nanoparticles can deliver inhibitors of pro-inflammatory mediators directly to the lung, scavenge ROS via nanozyme activity, and reprogramme macrophages towards a resolving phenotype. Lipid-core nanomicelles, polymeric nanosystems and peptide-functionalised platforms have been devised to intercept toll-like receptor signalling and neutralise endotoxin, while ROS-responsive carriers ensure on-demand drug release within inflamed microenvironments. These strategies aim to suppress neutrophil infiltration, inhibit inflammasome activation and restore immune homeostasis without systemic toxicity. Advances in material chemistry and surface functionalisation have enhanced pulmonary retention, cell-specific uptake and endosomal escape, paving the way for translational nanotherapeutics in ALI.
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Nanomedicine Approaches to Inflammation Modulation in Acute Lung Injury publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanomedicine approaches to inflammation modulation in acute lung injury across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen that contribute to oxidative stress and tissue damage.
Inflammasome: A multiprotein intracellular complex that activates inflammatory cytokines in response to pathogenic stimuli.
Nanocarrier: A nanoscale vehicle designed to transport therapeutic agents to specific cells or tissues.
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA): A biodegradable polymer frequently used in drug-delivery nanoparticles.
Macrophage polarisation: The process by which macrophages adopt pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes.
Toll-like receptor (TLR): A family of pattern-recognition receptors that detect microbial components and initiate innate immune responses.
References
- Multifaceted Immunomodulatory Nanocomplexes Target Neutrophilic‐ROS Inflammation in Acute Lung Injury. Advanced Science (2024).
- Synergistic anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ceria/resatorvid co-decorated nanoparticles for acute lung injury therapy. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023).
- Dual Functioned Hexapeptide‐Coated Lipid‐Core Nanomicelles Suppress Toll‐Like Receptor‐Mediated Inflammatory Responses through Endotoxin Scavenging and Endosomal pH Modulation. Advanced Science (2023).
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