Bioactive Materials (Mar 2025)
Novel carbon dots with dual Modulatory effects on the bone marrow and spleen as a potential therapeutic candidate for treating spinal cord injury
- Junjin Li,
- Hongda Wang,
- Yuanquan Li,
- Chunzhen Wang,
- Haiwen Feng,
- Yilin Pang,
- Jie Ren,
- Chuanhao Li,
- Erke Gao,
- Dejing Zhang,
- Dunxu Hu,
- Pengtian Zhao,
- Han Ding,
- Baoyou Fan,
- Tao Zhang,
- Xiaomeng Song,
- Zhijian Wei,
- Guangzhi Ning,
- Yong-Qiang Li,
- Shiqing Feng
Affiliations
- Junjin Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Hongda Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Yuanquan Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Chunzhen Wang
- Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Science, School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
- Haiwen Feng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Yilin Pang
- Orthopedic Research Center of Shandong University and Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Jie Ren
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Chuanhao Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Erke Gao
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Dejing Zhang
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Dunxu Hu
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Pengtian Zhao
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Han Ding
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Baoyou Fan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Tao Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, No. 247 Beiyuan Street, Tianqiao District, Jinan, 250033, China
- Xiaomeng Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Zhijian Wei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China; Orthopedic Research Center of Shandong University and Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China; Corresponding author. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Guangzhi Ning
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China; Corresponding author. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Yong-Qiang Li
- Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Science, School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China; Corresponding author. Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Science, School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China.
- Shiqing Feng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China; Orthopedic Research Center of Shandong University and Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China; Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, No. 247 Beiyuan Street, Tianqiao District, Jinan, 250033, China; Corresponding author. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society Collaborating Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Journal volume & issue
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Vol. 45
pp. 534 – 550
Abstract
Spinal cord injury triggers leukocyte mobilization from the peripheral circulation to the injury site, exacerbating spinal cord damage. Simultaneously, bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and splenic leukocytes rapidly mobilize to replenish the depleted peripheral blood leukocyte pool. However, current treatments for spinal cord injuries overlook interventions targeting peripheral immune organs and tissues, highlighting the need to develop novel drugs capable of effectively regulating peripheral immunity and treating spinal cord injuries. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and characterized novel Ejiao carbon dots (EJCDs) that inhibit myeloid cell proliferation and peripheral migration by promoting HSC self-renewal, and distinct differentiation into erythroid progenitors in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, EJCDs attenuate the immune response in the spleen, leukocytes’ reservoir, following spinal cord injury by diminishing the local infiltration of monocytes and macrophages while promoting motor function recovery. These effects are mediated through the downregulation of CCAAT enhancer binding protein-β expression in the spleen and the upregulation of FZD4 protein expression in Lin− Sca-1+ c-kit+ cells (LSKs) within the bone marrow. Our findings demonstrate that EJCDs effectively reduce myeloid cell infiltration post-spinal cord injury and promote neurological recovery, making them promising therapeutic candidates for treating spinal cord injuries.
