A closed-loop myocardial infarction theranostic platform activated by macrophage-derived nitric oxide and acidic microenvironment
Precise management of the inflammatory response after myocardial infarction necessitates targeted engagement of cellular drivers. Here, we report a pathophysiology-guided theranostic platform that exploits two defining features of pro-inflammatory macrophages, their high-output nitric oxide (NO) production and localized acidic microenvironment, to enable concurrent sensing, quantification, and modulation of post-infarction inflammation. The platform, PM720@NRP, is engineered from platelet membranes encapsulating an NO-responsive NIR-II fluorophore and the immunomodulator FTY720. It delivers three integrated functions: (i) specific, NO-activated NIR-II imaging of inflammatory foci; (ii) machine learning-powered translation of imaging signals into quantitative maps of pro-inflammatory macrophage activity; (iii) acid-triggered release of FTY720 to reprogram macrophages toward a reparative phenotype, synergizing with platelet-derived factors to stimulate angiogenesis. This strategy provided real-time visualization and non-invasive quantification of inflammation, while improving cardiac function and repair. By repurposing pathological biomarkers as intrinsic triggers for diagnosis and treatment, this work establishes a closed-loop, biology-inspired paradigm that autonomously adapts to dynamic disease activity.
Authors
- Jiayi Tong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1164-8748)
- Runqian Li
- Mingxi Li
- Fang Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6922-6348)
- Yan Chen
- Hui Lu
- Shengnan Li
- Xuan Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5151-4039)
Institutions
- Zhongda Hospital Southeast University (CN)
- Southeast University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Bioactive Materials
- Published
- 2026-05-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.05.045
- Primary Topic
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00