Premature ovarian failure (POI) is a significant cause of female infertility and endocrine dysfunction. It is defined as the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of POI, as they can promote cytokine release, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, thereby causing ovarian dysfunction. Therefore, NETs are a potential target for the treatment of POI. However, current research on NETs degradation is still limited.
The team led by Professor Zhu Yujuan from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University proposed a biomimetic catalytic nano-sponge (DENase@Ce) based on microfluidic technology as a potential anti-NETs therapy for the treatment of POI (Figure 1). The nano-sponge with a surface covered with cationic polymers can adsorb NETs through the charge capture effect and then be degraded by the DNAase I conjugated on the outer surface. To fundamentally alleviate the inflammatory microenvironment that recruits and activates neutrophils, this nano-sponge exhibits inherent catalase, superoxide dismutase, and the ability to inhibit hydroxyl radicals, which can effectively reduce excessive reactive oxygen species and thereby inhibit the further formation of NETs. In vivo studies have shown that injecting the catalytic nano-sponge can improve the ovarian function of mice with POI induced by cyclophosphamide, manifested as increased ovarian weight, improved follicle number, and recovery of fertility. This work has constructed a novel synergistic anti-NETs strategy and provided a potential treatment platform for addressing fertility damage caused by chemotherapy.
Link to the original article: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202522326?sessionid=