Engineered nanosponges mitigate peripheral stress-induced neuroinflammation and restore cognitive function

Abstract

Systemic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key driver of neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction, particularly in the aging population. Yet, therapeutic interventions that broadly attenuate circulating inflammatory mediators without suppressing host immunity remain limited. Here, we report the development of taurine functionalized hyaluronic acid nanosponges (HA Tau) that blunt systemic inflammatory cascades to protect against downstream neurocognitive impairment. Using molecular docking calculations and experimental validations, we show that taurine functionalization enhances multivalent interactions with diverse cytokines, enabling broad-spectrum sequestration of inflammatory proteins from both murine and human plasma while preserving the intrinsic hypochlorous acid neutralizing ability of taurine. In aged mice undergoing orthopedic surgery, systemic administration of HA Tau nanosponges lowered the levels of circulating inflammatory mediators, preserved blood brain barrier integrity, and attenuated glial cell activation. These effects were accompanied by improved hippocampal neuronal activity and spatial working memory in mice. By dampening peripheral inflammatory surges, the nanosponges limit peripheral-to-central inflammatory signaling without directly targeting the central nervous system. Collectively, these findings demonstrate systemic inflammatory modulation could be an effective strategy for mitigating peripheral insult-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, and position HA Tau nanosponges as a versatile biomaterial platform for treating inflammation-driven disorders.