Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by the interaction of immune cells within the plaque. Alternative therapies targeting immune regulation hold promise for the treatment of atherosclerosis. However, current heat-resistant treatments mainly focus on regulating individual immune subsets, and there is little research on cross-cell anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms. We have developed an inorganic nanoparticle platform (PEGylated phosphorus nanosheets [VPNS@P]), which can efficiently accumulate in the immune microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques, especially in macrophages, monocytes, and some T/B cells, and rarely absorbs non-targeted substances. The VPNS@P platform significantly reduces plaque area, improves plaque stability in atherosclerotic mice, and shows no side effects. Importantly, through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and experimental verification, we have revealed the potential mechanism of VPNS@P in atherosclerosis treatment, which inhibits inflammation and enhances immunity, and demonstrates its effective regulation of the four key immune cell populations in the plaque. Additionally, VPNS@P reshapes the intercellular communication between immune cells and reveals the therapeutic targets of atherosclerosis. This study reveals an immune-regulating nanotherapy for atherosclerosis, highlighting the potential for treating inflammatory diseases. This study was published in Cell Reports Medicine under the title "Restoring immune homeostasis in atherosclerotic plaques via inorganic violet phosphorus nano-immunotherapy".
Reference News: DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102528