Nanocomposites based on nanoceria regulate the immune microenvironment for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

The immune system is closely associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Macrophages are one of the important immune cell types in the ovarian proinflammatory microenvironment, and ameliorate the inflammatory status mainly through M2 phenotype polarization during PCOS. Current therapeutic approaches lack efficacy and immunomodulatory capacity, and a new therapeutic method is needed to prevent inflammation and alleviate PCOS. Here, octahedral nanoceria nanoparticles with powerful antioxidative ability were bonded to the anti-inflammatory drug resveratrol (CeO(2)@RSV), which demonstrates a crucial strategy that involves anti-inflammatory and antioxidative efficacy, thereby facilitating the proliferation of granulosa cells during PCOS. Notably, our nanoparticles were demonstrated to possess potent therapeutic efficacy via anti-inflammatory activities and effectively alleviated endocrine dysfunction, inflammation and ovarian injury in a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS mouse model. Collectively, this study revealed the tremendous potential of the newly developed nanoparticles in ameliorating the proinflammatory microenvironment and promoting the function of granulosa cells, representing the first attempt to treat PCOS by using CeO(2)@RSV nanoparticles and providing new insights in combating clinical PCOS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-023-02182-w.