Implant-related infections (IRIs) are catastrophic complications after orthopedic surgery. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in IRIs create a redox-imbalanced microenvironment around the implant, which severely limits the curing of IRIs by inducing biofilm formation and immune disorders. However, current therapeutic strategies commonly eliminate infection utilizing the explosive generation of ROS, which exacerbates the redox imbalance, aggravating immune disorders and promoting infection chronicity. Herein, a self-homeostasis immunoregulatory strategy based on a luteolin (Lut)-loaded copper (Cu2+)-doped hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticle system (Lut@Cu-HN) is designed to cure IRIs by remodeling the redox balance. In the acidic infection environment, Lut@Cu-HN is continuously degraded to release Lut and Cu2+. As both an antibacterial and immunomodulatory agent, Cu2+ kills bacteria directly and promotes macrophage pro-inflammatory phenotype polarization to activate the antibacterial immune response. Simultaneously, Lut scavenges excessive ROS to prevent the Cu2+-exacerbated redox imbalance from impairing macrophage activity and function, thus reducing Cu2+ immunotoxicity. The synergistic effect of Lut and Cu2+ confers excellent antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties to Lut@Cu-HN. As demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, Lut@Cu-HN self-regulates immune homeostasis through redox balance remodeling, ultimately facilitating IRI eradication and tissue regeneration.
Keywords: copper; implant-related infections; luteolin; reactive oxygen species; redox imbalances; self-homeostasis immunoregulatory strategies.