Work

Targeting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation via pH-responsive lipid nanoparticle delivery of HDAC inhibitor RGFP966 in ischemic stroke

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ischemic stroke (IS) remains a leading cause of global disability and mortality, with limited effective anti-inflammatory interventions. Targeting histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) to reprogram microglial polarization holds great therapeutic promise, but the HDAC3-specific inhibitor RGFP966 suffers from poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and systemic toxicity. Herein, we developed a pH-responsive brain-targeted lipid nanoparticle (CD-TLNP@RGFP966) by integrating T7 peptide modification for BBB transcytosis and cinnamaldehyde-α-cyclodextrin (CA-αCD) encapsulation for acidic lesion-triggered drug release. CD-TLNP@RGFP966 exhibited favorable colloidal stability, biosafety, and pH-dependent release behavior. It efficiently crossed the BBB, accumulated in ischemic brain tissue, promoted microglial M2 polarization, attenuated neuroinflammation, reduced infarct volume, and improved neurological function in tMCAO mice. This study provides a novel targeted nanocarrier strategy for the anti-inflammatory treatment of IS.

Source: Science and Technology of Advanced Materials

DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2026.2699624

Authors: Yaqi Liu, Biao Luo, Yun Xu, Dexiang Liu, Qiujing Wang

Institution: Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Language: English

Topic: Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,134