Chrysanthemum-derived carbon dots alleviate colitis by dual targeting and regulating Keap1/Nrf2 and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways

Oxidative stress, resulting from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), is critically involved in the development and progression of inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, targeting ROS for the treatment of inflammation holds great potential, and the underlying mechanism is of great significance for clinical medication. In this work, carbon dots (C-dots) based on chrysanthemum as carbon source were obtained through a hydrothermal method. The as-prepared C-dots exhibited favorable ROS scavenging capacity and biocompatibility. The ROS level and the oxidative damage were reversed, the expression of proinflammatory factors was reduced, and the disrupted barrier was recovered by chrysanthemum-derived C-dots in the cellular inflammatory model. The anti-inflammatory effects were also validated in mice colitis model. Mechanistically, the chrysanthemum-derived C-dots regulated the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant signaling and inhibited the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory signaling, thereby restoring redox homeostasis and modulating the inflammatory microenvironment. Collectively, the C-dots from chrysanthemum with preferable biocompatibility hold a bright prospect in inflammation resolution through remodeling redox and inflammatory microenvironment.