Inhalation delivery of dexamethasone with iSEND nanoparticles attenuates the COVID-19 cytokine storm in mice and nonhuman primates

Sci Adv. 2023 Jun 16;9(24):eadg3277. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3277. Epub 2023 Jun 14.

Abstract

Dexamethasone (DEX) is the first drug to show life-saving efficacy in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while DEX is associated with serious adverse effects. Here, we report an inhaled, Self-immunoregulatory, Extracellular Nanovesicle-based Delivery (iSEND) system by engineering neutrophil nanovesicles with cholesterols to deliver DEX for enhanced treatment of COVID-19. Relying on surface chemokine and cytokine receptors, the iSEND showed improved targeting to macrophages and neutralized broad-spectrum cytokines. The nanoDEX, made by encapsulating DEX with the iSEND, efficiently promoted the anti-inflammation effect of DEX in an acute pneumonia mouse model and suppressed DEX-induced bone density reduction in an osteoporosis rat model. Relative to an intravenous administration of DEX at 0.1 milligram per kilogram, a 10-fold lower dose of nanoDEX administered by inhalation produced even better effects against lung inflammation and injury in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-challenged nonhuman primates. Our work presents a safe and robust inhalation delivery platform for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • COVID-19*
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / etiology
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Primates
  • Rats

Substances

  • Dexamethasone