Polydopamine nanomaterials and their potential applications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Abstract

The conventional treatment methods used for the management of autoimmune diseases (ADs) have limited efficacy and also exhibit significant side effects. Thus, identification of novel strategies to improve the efficacy and safety of ADs treatment is urgently required. Overactivated immune response and oxidative stress are common characteristics associated with ADs. Polydopamine (PDA), as a polymer material with good antioxidant and photothermal conversion properties, has displayed useful application potential against ADs. In addition, PDA possesses good biosafety, simple preparation, and easy functionalization, which is conducive for the pharmacological development of PDA nanomaterials with clinical transformation prospects. Here, we have first reviewed the preparation of PDA, the different functional integration strategies of PDA-based biomaterials, and their potential applications in ADs. Next, the mechanism of action of PDA in ADs has been elaborated in detail. Finally, the application opportunities and challenges linked with PDA nanomaterials for ADs treatment are discussed. This review is contributed to design reasonable and effective PDA nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of ADs.

Keywords:

• Polydopamine
• autoimmune diseases
• photothermal therapy
• immunomodulation
• antioxidant

Author contributions

M.W. and C·H. analyzed data and wrote the manuscript. C.S. and D.X. investigated and collated data, as well as claimed for permission. Q.L., A.W. and T.C. conceived and supervised this review. All authors discussed and commented on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were ­created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the funding from Ningbo Natural Science Foundation [2021J019, 2023J386, 2023J021], Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology Plan Project [2022RC251], Ningbo Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging [Grant No.2021L003: 2022LYKFZD01, 2022LYKEYB02, 2022LYKFYB05], National Natural Science Foundation of China [32025021, 51873225], 2021Z054 Ningbo major science and technology task project [Nos.2021Z054], Ningbo Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology and the Project of NINGBO Leading Medical&Health Disipline [2016-S05], Ningbo Science and Technology Public Welfare Project [2022S26, 2022S133], the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences [Grant No. XDB36000000], Key Scientific and Technological Special Project of Ningbo City [2017C110022], Provincial and Municipal Co-construction Key Discipline for Medical Imaging [No. 2022-S02].