Inflammation is a tightly regulated biological response mediated by a complex network of cytokines, chemokines, and intracellular signaling pathways. Dysregulated cytokine signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous acute and chronic inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, neuroinflammation, and metabolic syndromes. Recent advances in nanomedicine have highlighted the therapeutic potential of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), such as gold, silver, platinum, cerium oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and copper nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical properties and biological activities. Emerging evidence indicates that these nanomaterials can modulate key inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and IFN-γ, through regulation of signaling pathways such as NF-κB, JAK/STAT, MAPK, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Understanding the interactions between metal-based NPs and cytokine signaling networks is essential for developing innovative and targeted therapies for inflammatory diseases.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date platform for exploring the role of metal-based nanoparticles in regulating cytokine signaling and inflammatory responses. The collection seeks to bring together multidisciplinary contributions from nanotechnology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, and translational medicine to elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which metal-based NPs influence cytokine production, immune cell function, and inflammatory signaling cascades.
Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how nanoparticle characteristics (including size, shape, surface chemistry, charge, and functionalization) affect their immunomodulatory properties. The issue also aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these nanomaterials in preclinical and clinical models of inflammatory diseases while addressing critical challenges related to safety, biodistribution, immunotoxicity, and regulatory considerations.
This Research Topic focuses on the emerging role of metal-based nanoparticles as modulators of cytokine signaling in inflammatory diseases. We invite contributions that provide mechanistic, translational, and clinical insights into nanoparticle-mediated regulation of immune and inflammatory pathways. Studies investigating interactions between nanoparticles and cytokines, immune cells, signaling molecules, and inflammatory microenvironments are particularly encouraged. Submissions may include experimental, computational, translational, or clinical investigations, as well as critical evaluations of safety, efficacy, and future therapeutic applications.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Gold nanoparticles and cytokine-mediated anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
• Silver nanoparticles in immune regulation and inflammatory signaling.
• Cerium oxide nanoparticles as redox-active modulators of cytokine networks.
• Platinum, palladium, copper, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxide nanoparticles in inflammation control.
• Nanoparticle regulation of NF-κB, JAK/STAT, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways.
• Effects of metal-based nanoparticles on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Classification
Clinical Trial
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
