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Meng C, Liu Y, Ming Y, Lu C, Li Y, Zhang Y, Su D, Gao X, Yuan Q. Enhancing Liver Delivery of Gold Nanoclusters via Human Serum Albumin Encapsulation for Autoimmune Hepatitis Alleviation. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:110. [PMID: 38258120 PMCID: PMC10818704 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptide-protected gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), possessing exceptional biocompatibility and remarkable physicochemical properties, have demonstrated intrinsic pharmaceutical activity in immunomodulation, making them a highly attractive frontier in the field of nanomedicine exploration. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a serious autoimmune liver disease caused by the disruption of immune balance, for which effective treatment options are still lacking. In this study, we initially identified glutathione (GSH)-protected AuNCs as a promising nanodrug candidate for AIH alleviating in a Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced mice model. However, to enhance treatment efficiency, liver-targeted delivery needs to be improved. Therefore, human serum albumin (HSA)-encapsulated AuNCs were constructed to achieve enhanced liver targeting and more potent mitigation of Con A-induced elevations in plasma aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and liver injury in mice. In vivo and in vitro mechanism studies indicated that AuNCs could suppress the secretion of IFN-γ by Con A-stimulated T cells and subsequently inhibit the activation of the JAK2/STAT1 pathway and eventual hepatocyte apoptosis induced by IFN-γ. These actions ultimately protect the liver from immune cell infiltration and damage caused by Con A. These findings suggest that bio-protected AuNCs hold promise as nanodrugs for AIH therapy, with their liver targeting capabilities and therapeutic efficiency being further improved via rational surface ligand engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Meng
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Qilu Institute of Technology, Jinan 250200, China;
| | - Yuping Ming
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Cao Lu
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Yanggege Li
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Yulu Zhang
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Dongdong Su
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Xueyun Gao
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Qing Yuan
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; (C.M.); (Y.M.); (C.L.); (Y.L.); (Y.Z.); (X.G.)
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