2. Academic Validation
  3. Macrophage-targeted Mms6 mRNA-lipid nanoparticles promote locomotor functional recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury in mice

Macrophage-targeted Mms6 mRNA-lipid nanoparticles promote locomotor functional recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury in mice

  • Sci Adv. 2025 Mar 28;11(13):eads2295. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ads2295.
Chunyan Fu 1,  Xiaoqin Jin 2,  Kangfan Ji 3,  Ke Lan 4,  Xingjia Mao 5,  Zhaobo Huang 6,  Jian Chen 6,  Fengdong Zhao 6,  Pengfei Li 7,  Xuefei Hu 7,  Liwen Sun 7,  Ning Lu 7,  Jinjie Zhong 5,  Yingying Chen 8,  Linlin Wang 1 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Orthopaedics of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, PR China.
  • 2 Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
  • 4 Department of Medical Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
  • 5 Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
  • 6 Department of Orthopaedics of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
  • 7 Tarim University School of Medicine, Alaer 843300, PR China.
  • 8 Department of Obstetrics of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, PR China.
PMID: 40138430 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads2295
Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe central nervous system damage. M2 macrophages within the lesion are crucial for SCI recovery. Our previous research revealed that M2 macrophages transfected with magnetotactic bacteria-derived Mms6 gene can resist Ferroptosis and enhance SCI recovery. To address the limitations of M2 macrophage transplantation, we developed lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating Mms6 mRNA targeting macrophages (Mms6 mRNA-PS/LNPs). The targeting efficiency and therapeutic effect of these LNPs in SCI mice were evaluated. Intravenous administration of Mms6 mRNA-PS/LNPs delivered more Mms6 mRNAs to lesion-site macrophages than those in the Mms6 mRNA-LNP group, which resulted in enhancing motor function recovery, reducing lesion area and scar formation, and promoting neuronal survival and nerve fiber repair. These effects were nullified when macrophages were depleted. These findings suggest that macrophage-targeted delivery of Mms6 mRNA is a promising therapeutic strategy for promoting spinal cord repair and motor function recovery in patients with traumatic SCI.

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