Framework Nucleic Acid-Based and Neutrophil-Based Nanoplatform Loading Baicalin with Targeted Drug Delivery for Anti-Inflammation Treatment

Abstract

Targeted drug delivery is a promising strategy for treating inflammatory diseases, with recent research focusing on the combination of neutrophils and nanomaterials. In this study, a targeted nanodrug delivery platform (Ac-PGP-tFNA, APT) was developed using tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA) along with a neutrophil hitchhiking mechanism to achieve precise delivery and anti-inflammatory effects. The tFNA structure, known for its excellent drug-loading capacity and cellular uptake efficiency, was used to carry a therapeutic agent─baicalin. The results demonstrate that the development of this drug delivery platform not only considerably enhances the bioavailability and effective concentration of the drug (baicalin) but also promotes the polarization of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages by modulating the interactions between the neutrophils and macrophages. This targeted therapeutic method effectively treats inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and introduces a strategy for managing inflammatory diseases characterized by neutrophil infiltration.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory therapy; macrophage polarization; neutrophil hitchhike; neutrophil infiltration; targeted drug delivery; tetrahedral framework nucleic acid.