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Spatio-controlled sialic acid polymer molecular patterns for selective Siglecs modulation and cytokine storm abrogation

Chemical Science

Abstract

Cytokine storm is a leading cause of mortality in severe infections and adverse responses during adoptive cell therapies. Leveraging multivalent sialic acids (SAs) and the specificity of the SA-Siglecs (SA-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins) axis to direct immune cell responses opens a compelling route to efficiently mitigate cytokine storms. However, the optimal configuration of multivalent SAs to maximize Siglec binding affinity and immune-directing activity has yet to be elucidated. Herein, we report Sialic Acid Polymer Molecular Patterns (SPMPs), a class of synthetic macromolecular immunomodulators engineered with precise control over polymer backbone conformation, pendant SA spacing, and branching topology. This molecular pattern recreates the hierarchical multivalency of natural glycans while exploiting the modularity of polymer chemistry and molecular controlled SA patterns. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and single-molecule spectroscopy confirm structure-specific sialic acid patterns promote Siglec-E clustering and high-affinity engagement, triggering potent inhibitory signaling and reshaping innate immune cell functions to abrogate cytokine storms. These pattern-encoded macromolecules establish a new paradigm for precise immune modulation and offer a framework for materials-based interventions in inflammatory disorders.

Authors 16

  1. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  2. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun, 130022, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  3. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  4. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry · State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  5. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry · State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  6. Harbin Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Harbin Institute of Technology Zhengzhou Research Institute, Zhengzhou, 450018, China

  7. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  8. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry · State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  9. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

  10. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

  11. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

  12. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences · Institute of Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100089, China

  13. Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, Leiden, 2333CC, Netherlands

  14. Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry · State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  15. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun, 130022, China

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

  16. University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry

    Affiliation as printed

    Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun, 130022, China

    School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

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References 47