A nanotrap improves survival in severe sepsis by attenuating hyperinflammation

Targeting single mediators has failed to reduce the mortality of sepsis. We developed a telodendrimer (TD) nanotrap (NT) to capture various biomolecules via multivalent, hybrid and synergistic interactions. Here, we report that the immobilization of TD-NTs in size-exclusive hydrogel resins simultaneously adsorbs septic molecules, e.g. lipopolysaccharides (LPS), cytokines and damage- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs/PAMPs) from blood with high efficiency (92–99%). Distinct surface charges displayed on the majority of pro-inflammatory cytokines (negative) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (positive) allow for the selective capture via TD NTs with different charge moieties. The efficacy of NT therapies in murine sepsis is both time-dependent and charge-dependent. The combination of the optimized NT therapy with a moderate antibiotic treatment results in a 100% survival in severe septic mice by controlling both infection and hyperinflammation, whereas survival are only 50–60% with the individual therapies. Cytokine analysis, inflammatory gene activation and tissue histopathology strongly support the survival benefits of treatments.