Regulatory T cells engineered with polyphenol-functionalized immunosuppressant nanocomplexes for rebuilding periodontal hard tissue under inflammation-challenged microenvironment

Global aging heightens the risk of oral disorders, among which periodontitis is the major cause of tooth loss in the aging population. The regeneration of damaged periodontal hard tissue is highly challenging due to the existence of the refractory local inflammation. Owing to the potent anti-inflammatory capabilities, regulatory T cells hold great promise in immunotherapies for tissue regeneration. However, the transferred regulatory T cells can alter their phenotypes and functions in local inflammatory milieu, significantly impairing their therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we introduce a novel regulatory T cell-based nanobiohybrid system bearing polyphenol-functionalized rapamycin nanocomplexes. The sustained in situ release of immunosuppressant rapamycin from the cell-attached nanocomplexes maintains the anti-inflammatory phenotype of regulatory T cells in the inflammatory milieu. The synergistic actions of the anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted and the immunosuppressant released guide a pro-resolving polarization of macrophages and enhance osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stromal cells. The stabilized phenotype of the regulatory T cells dramatically promoted the resolution of periodontal inflammation and the repair of the hard tissue (alveolar bone) in vivo. Overall, these studies highlight a potent regulatory T cell-based nanobiohybrid therapy to treat periodontitis by modulating periodontal immune microenvironment.