Engineering Asymmetric and Highly Exposed Fe Single‐Atom Nanozymes for siMMP13 Delivery and Ferroptosis Inhibition in Osteoarthritis Therapy

J Ji Luo F Feiying Yin (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China) Y Yuan Liang Y Yuting Ye S Shihui Xiao (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China) J Jianfeng Guo J Jianhui Xiang (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China) G Guanhua Li X Xin Yang J Jiejia Deng (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China) J Junxu Yang (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China) Z Zhengtian Li J Jinmin Zhao L Li Zheng (Dizal Pharmaceutical, Shanghai) K Kelong Fan J Jingping Zhong (Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Material for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Coconstructed By the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi P. R. China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ferroptosis, driven by redox imbalance, plays a critical role in osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Although antioxidant nanozymes hold therapeutic potential, designing highly efficient and targeted systems to inhibit ferroptosis remains challenging. Here, we developed a 2D nitrogen‐doped graphene‐like nanomesh (NGM) loaded with asymmetric and highly exposed Fe single atoms, carried with the cartilage‐targeting WYRGRL peptide and siRNA (siMMP13) to form Fe SAzymes (si‐FeSA/NGM‐W) as ferroptosis inhibitors to alleviate OA. By mixed molten salt and Zn removal, exfoliating Zn‐ZIF into an ultrathin 2D hierarchical porous NGM with topological defects and hierarchical structure, we created a scaffold for anchoring asymmetric and highly exposed Fe single atoms. The abundant Fe‐N 4 ‐Cl coordination active sites then introduce strain and defects, which facilitate electron transfer, enhance radical adsorption, and lower reaction barriers, thereby augmenting multi‐enzyme (SOD/CAT/GPx) activities. This enables the functionalized si‐FeSA/NGM‐W to target cartilage, where it inhibits ferroptosis by downregulating MMP13, upregulating GPX4, restoring mitochondrial function, and modulating inflammation, ultimately achieving targeted OA therapy. Mechanistically, this process involves suppression of the IL‐17 pathway and enhancement of glutathione metabolism. This work presents a targeted nanozyme platform for precise OA therapy via ferroptosis inhibition.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 16
Published March 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (16)

J

Ji Luo

F

Feiying Yin

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China

Y

Yuan Liang

Y

Yuting Ye

S

Shihui Xiao

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China

J

Jianfeng Guo

J

Jianhui Xiang

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China

G

Guanhua Li

X

Xin Yang

J

Jiejia Deng

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China

J

Junxu Yang

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Materials for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical Bioresource Development and Application Co‐Constructed by the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi China

Z

Zhengtian Li

J

Jinmin Zhao

L

Li Zheng

Dizal Pharmaceutical, Shanghai

K

Kelong Fan

J

Jingping Zhong

Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Material for Tissue and Organ Regeneration Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Coconstructed By the Province and Ministry Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning Guangxi P. R. China