# Chiral gold nanoparticles manipulate osteoimmune microenvironment via macrophage autophagy for bone regeneration

## TL;DR

Chiral gold nanoparticles can control the immune environment in bones by affecting macrophage autophagy, promoting better bone healing.

## Contribution

The study introduces chiral gold nanoparticles that stereoselectively regulate macrophage autophagy for bone regeneration.

## Key findings

- L-AuNPs showed higher macrophage uptake and autophagy levels than D-AuNPs.
- L-AuNPs improved the osteogenic microenvironment and enhanced skull defect healing in vivo.

## Abstract

The immune microenvironment orchestrates bone regeneration, which can be manipulated by macrophage autophagy. Herein, gold nanoparticles with L/D (left-handed or right-handed)-chirality (L/D-AuNPs) were synthesized with chiral glutathione ligands to stereoselectively regulate macrophage autophagy, and further manipulate immune microenvironment for bone regeneration. Notably, L-AuNPs exhibited superior macrophage uptake efficiency and higher autophagy level compared to D-AuNPs. Meanwhile, L-AuNPs improved the osteogenic microenvironment, further promoting bone regeneration. In addition, the in vivo results showed that the healing of skull defect was significantly enhanced by L-AuNPs. These findings demonstrated that chiral AuNPs can stereoselectively regulate macrophage autophagy and open an avenue for applications of chiral nanoparticles in osteoimmunity.

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