Growth plate cartilage-targeting nanoparticles for pharmacological treatment of hypochondroplasia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: , resulting in overactivation of signaling and short stature. Pharmacological therapy remains the primary treatment but provides only partial symptomatic relief, as the avascular and alymphatic nature of growth plate cartilage severely limits drug delivery and accumulation. To address this challenge, we developed CT-CM-NPs, a drug delivery system coated with primary chondrocyte membranes and further modified with the collagen II-binding peptide WYRGRL. This design retains the inherent biological properties of native membranes while incorporating targeting capability, enabling efficient cartilage targeting and penetration. In vivo, CT-CM-NPs effectively delivered the Hedgehog pathway agonist Purmorphamine to the growth plate cartilage in an HCH mouse model, resulting in upregulated Hedgehog signaling, restored impaired ciliogenesis, improved chondrocyte phenotypes, and ultimately increased bone and body length. Collectively, these findings establish CT-CM-NPs as a promising and potentially translatable nanoplatform for the treatment of HCH.
Source: Bioactive Materials
Institutions: Xiamen University, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou Laboratory, Westlake University, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,200
OpenAlex ID: W7164901526