Ultrasmall Prussian Blue Nanozyme Attenuates Osteoarthritis by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species and Regulating Macrophage Phenotype

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by obscure etiology and unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes, making the development of new efficient therapies urgent. Superfluous reactive oxygen species (ROS) have historically been considered one of the crucial factors inducing the pathological progression of OA. Ultrasmall Prussian blue nanoparticles (USPBNPs), approximately sub-5 nm in size, are developed by regulating the configuration of polyvinylpyrrolidone chains. USPBNPs display an excellent ROS eliminating capacity and catalase-like activity, capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into O₂. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of USPBNPs can be attributed to repolarizing macrophages from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype by decreasing the ROS levels accompanied by O₂ improvement. Additionally, USPBNPs exhibit an exciting therapeutic efficiency against OA, comparable to that of hydrocortisone in vivo. This study not only develops a new therapeutic agent for OA but also offers an estimable insight into the application of the nanozyme.