A nanosystem targeting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 for continuous spatiotemporal idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive, life-threatening disease marked by excessive collagen deposition, severe tissue injury, and dysregulated oxidative stress, poses a major threat to human health. Despite clinical advances, current therapies have limited anti-fibrotic efficacy. Here we show a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanosystem targeting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) for spatiotemporally precise IPF treatment. Anti-TIMP-1 antibodies (aT) are conjugated to mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (Mexo) via ROS-cleavable phenylboronic acid ester linkers (cl), yielding Mexo-cl-aT. Following intratracheal administration, cl linkers are selectively cleaved by elevated ROS in the IPF microenvironment, enabling ROS scavenging while releasing Mexo

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12909971 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature