Carbon-based nanoparticles from traditional black soybean oil: A novel nanotherapeutic strategy for atopic dermatitis via antioxidant modulation of pyroptosis

Black soybean oil (BSO) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for inflammatory skin disorders, yet its active basis remains unclear. Inspired by BSO preparation's similarity to carbon dot synthesis, we isolated fluorescent carbon-based nanoparticles (BSO-CNPs) from BSO. Analyses confirmed their characteristic nanostructure and fluorescence. Functionally, BSO-CNPs showed potent antioxidant activity, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restoring cell viability under in vitro oxidative stress. In murine models of atopic dermatitis, topical BSO-CNPs alleviated clinical symptoms, reduced epidermal hyperplasia, suppressed mast cell infiltration, and downregulated inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, BSO-CNPs attenuate the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pyroptosis pathway by suppressing mitochondrial ROS and stabilizing lysosomal function. Furthermore, BSO-CNPs demonstrated high biosafety in vitro and in vivo . These findings elucidate the material basis of BSO’s therapeutic effects and highlight BSO-CNPs as a novel nanotherapeutic candidate for atopic dermatitis, bridging traditional herbal medicine with modern nanomedicine.