The hexapeptide functionalized gold nanoparticles protect against sepsis-associated encephalopathy by forming specific protein corona and regulating macrophage activation.

ABSTRACT: Sepsis-induced systemic inflammatory responses can often lead to brain dysfunction with impaired cognitive function and mobility, known as sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Currently, there are no effective pharmacological therapeutics to treat SAE. Herein, we demonstrated the hexapeptide functionalized gold nanoparticles P12 that reduced SAE in septic mice with a dual mechanism to down-regulate systemic inflammation. We found that intraperitoneally administered P12 could target macrophages and regulate their inflammatory responses to decrease systemic inflammation and improve mice's cognitive function and mobility with SAE. Depleting peritoneal macrophages diminished the neuroprotective effects of P12 in SAE mice, suggesting macrophages as the effector cells for the neuroprotection

SUBMITTER: Song Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11997411 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature