Gold Nanoparticles with Anti-Inflammatory Add-On Help Injured Muscles Heal Rapidly

Inflammation in the body is an important mechanism that helps to heal. But, as is well known, it can also create problems by aggravating injuries and intensifying various medical conditions. Researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have been working on getting a handle on the process of inflammation so as to be able to better guide how it heals the body.
The team has focused on being able to switch macrophages, the white blood cells of the immune system found at sites of injury and infection, between their two primary inflammatory states. Normally, the cells are first in their M1 state, which results in the production of molecules such as inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides, and then they eventually switch to the M2 state, in which inflammation is reduced and tissue fibers are allowed to mature. The issue is that the body is not very good at deciding when to switch between M1 and M2, too often resulting in continued inflammation when it’s time to let tissues heal and regenerate.