Nanomedicine platform for targeting activated neutrophils and neutrophil–platelet complexes using an α1-antitrypsin-derived peptide motif

The potential impact of nanomedicine on COVID-19-induced thrombosis

“…A neutrophil-targeting approach is particularly interesting for early treatment, as the thrombus does not need to be formed yet for this targeting to be effective. For instance, Cruz et al 65 recently developed a short peptide sequence (CGEAIPMSIPPEVK) with affinity for neutrophil elastase, which is only expressed by activated neutrophils. Decoration https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01270-6 of liposomes with said ligand enabled specific targeting of activated neutrophils, and subsequently promoted accumulation at the site of thrombosis.…”

Small wonder: nanoparticles feed hydroxychloroquine to activated neutrophils

“…Neutrophils are an important part of the innate immune system, but they also contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of rheumatic diseases. The results of a newly published study 1 take us one step closer to the therapeutic targeting of neutrophils.…”

“…In an interesting study published in Nature Nanotechnology 1 , Cruz and colleagues developed a nanomedicine-based platform that might eventually prove fruitful for the clinical treatment of neutrophil hyperactivity. Nanoparticles can be packaged with drugs, and the surfaces of the particles can be conjugated with ligands that specifically target them to disease-associated cells and tissues.…”

“…In the new study 1 , liposome-based nanoparticles were labelled with a peptide derived from the reactive-centre loop of alpha-1 antitrypsin, an abundant inhibitor of neutrophil elastase and other serine proteases in solution. Given that neutrophil elastase is only found on the neutrophil surface upon activation and degranulation, the authors posited that this approach would direct the nanoparticles to activated (but not resting) neutrophils.…”

“…Through the formation of such aggregates, platelets support various neutrophil effector functions such as chemotaxis and NET release. In the study conducted by Cruz et al 1 , the researchers asked what would happen if nanoparticles were coated with ligands that recognized both neutrophils and platelets (Fig. 1 ).…”