Camouflaged nanorobots target and regulate macrophage subcellular organelle crosstalk patterns to promote neural regeneration

Macrophage (Mφ) phenotypic transformation is crucial in determining spinal cord injury (SCI) outcomes. However, the suborganelle crosstalk mechanisms-particularly between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria-that mediate Mφ subgroup conversion during SCI remain underexplored. We aim to integrate niche intervention strategies and omics sequencing to investigate the effects of the metabolic crosstalk between ER stress (ERS) and mitochondria. Subsequently, we develop a dual-targeted camouflaged nanorobot (BP@D/N) that can reach the SCI site via systemic circulation and selectively interact with Mφ. We observe that Ero1α-mediated Ca<sup>2+</sup> shuttling is an important mechanism for locking the inflammatory phenotype of Mφ. Blocking the Ero1α/MAMs/mtCa<sup>2+</sup> axis suppresses mtDNA release and downregulates the cGAS-STING-NFκB signaling cascade, thus promoting M2 polarization and neural repair. Our study clarifies the regulatory mechanism of Mφ transformation-associated suborganelle crosstalk and offers a paradigm for reconstructing the dynamic balance of immune-neural interactions in the SCI microenvironment for effective repair. It offers a scientifically grounded and translational approach to overcoming the clinical challenge of irreversible SCI.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68636-5
Primary Topic
Immune cells in cancer
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Camouflaged nanorobots target and regulate macrophage subcellular organelle crosstalk patterns to promote neural regeneration

Haochen Jiang, Yiwei Tony Zhu, Feng Cai, Lichen Zhang et al.
Nature Communications
Immune cells in cancer
article

Camouflaged nanorobots target and regulate macrophage subcellular organelle crosstalk patterns to promote neural regeneration

Haochen Jiang, Yiwei Tony Zhu, Feng Cai, Lichen Zhang, Yong Gu, Ziang Li, Xinzhao Jiang, Qiangqiang Guo, Guhao Cai, Xuesong Zhu, Liang Chen, Ziyu Lin, Kun Xi, Yiyang Huang, Jie Wu, Wei Wang, Jincheng Tang, Liang Zhou
article en

Abstract

Macrophage (Mφ) phenotypic transformation is crucial in determining spinal cord injury (SCI) outcomes. However, the suborganelle crosstalk mechanisms-particularly between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria-that mediate Mφ subgroup conversion during SCI remain underexplored. We aim to integrate niche intervention strategies and omics sequencing to investigate the effects of the metabolic crosstalk between ER stress (ERS) and mitochondria. Subsequently, we develop a dual-targeted camouflaged nanorobot (BP@D/N) that can reach the SCI site via systemic circulation and selectively interact with Mφ. We observe that Ero1α-mediated Ca<sup>2+</sup> shuttling is an important mechanism for locking the inflammatory phenotype of Mφ. Blocking the Ero1α/MAMs/mtCa<sup>2+</sup> axis suppresses mtDNA release and downregulates the cGAS-STING-NFκB signaling cascade, thus promoting M2 polarization and neural repair. Our study clarifies the regulatory mechanism of Mφ transformation-associated suborganelle crosstalk and offers a paradigm for reconstructing the dynamic balance of immune-neural interactions in the SCI microenvironment for effective repair. It offers a scientifically grounded and translational approach to overcoming the clinical challenge of irreversible SCI.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
Soochow University (CN), First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (CN)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 79%
Immune cells in cancer
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