Themed collection Peripheral immune tolerance: Celebrating the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine

Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis therapy: a journey from conventional therapy to precision medicine via nanoparticles targeting immune cells
Advancements in RA therapy from conventional drugs to nanomedicines based on immune cell therapy, which increases the specificity of the treatment and decreases the off-site effects, are reported. Images are created with BioRender.com.
Nanoscale, 2024,16, 14975-14993
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR02182G

Engineered biological nanoparticles as nanotherapeutics for tumor immunomodulation
Schematic of the immunomodulatory approaches for tipping the balance towards anti-cancer immunity. This image was created with BioRender.com.
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024,53, 5862-5903
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CS00602F
Immune-cell-mediated tissue engineering strategies for peripheral nerve injury and regeneration
Effective immune response is an indispensable process for peripheral nerve regeneration and the tissue engineering strategies provide an approach for regulating immune cells that promote nerve repair.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 2217-2235
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB02557H

Biomedical nanomaterials for immunological applications: ongoing research and clinical trials
This review discusses the main nanomaterial-induced immunomodulatory mechanisms and how insights into these mechanisms lead to new therapeutic applications.
Nanoscale Adv., 2020,2, 5046-5089
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NA00478B
Nanoparticle formulated vaccines: opportunities and challenges
The advancement in nanotechnology brings in unique opportunities to meet the challenges in immunology and vaccine development.
Nanoscale, 2020,12, 5746-5763
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9NR08958F
Polymeric micro- and nanoparticles for immune modulation
New advances in biomaterial-based approaches to modulate the immune system are being applied to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmunity.
Biomater. Sci., 2019,7, 14-30
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8BM01285G
Nanotherapeutics-mediated tolerogenic induction for enabling adeno-associated virus vector gene therapy re-administration by overcoming anti-drug antibodies
Utilizing co-assembled nanoparticles composed of lipidated rapamycin and itaconic acid to enable repeatable administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors by eliminating the formation of anti-drug antibodies.
Mater. Horiz., 2025,12, 6751-6764
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00203F
Engineering a photosensitizer nanoplatform for amplified photodynamic immunotherapy via tumor microenvironment modulation
A photosensitizer-based nanoplatform demonstrated amplified photodynamic immunotherapy by tumor microenvironment modulation.
Nanoscale Horiz., 2021,6, 120-131
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NH00480D

Novel tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase-targeted ruthenium(II)-indole complex activates immunotherapy in vitro and in vivo
In-Ru, a novel TDO-targeted indole-coordinated Ru(II) arene complex, induces DNA damage and necroptosis, further activates ICD effect and blocks TDO expression, thereby reversing immunosuppression and enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Chem. Sci., 2025,16, 15355-15367
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC03778F

A mitochondria-localized iridium(III) photosensitizer for two-photon photodynamic immunotherapy against melanoma
An iridium(III) two-photon photosensitizer was demonstrated to effectively trigger melanoma cell death by a combination of ferroptosis and ICD, and also cause the systemic induction of an immune response.
Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 1461-1471
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC06675K

Dual-targeting biomimetic delivery for anti-glioma activity via remodeling the tumor microenvironment and directing macrophage-mediated immunotherapy
A dual-targeting biomimetic codelivery and treatment strategy was developed for anti-glioma activity.
Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 2674-2689
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7SC04853J
2′-Fucosyllactose alleviates OVA-induced food allergy in mice by ameliorating intestinal microecology and regulating the imbalance of Th2/Th1 proportion
Food allergy (FA) has become a prominent problem in public health.
Food Funct., 2023,14, 10924-10940
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO03272H
Co-delivery of vitamin D3 and Lkb1 siRNA by cationic lipid-assisted PEG-PLGA nanoparticles to effectively remodel the immune system in vivo
Cationic lipid-assisted PEG-PLGA nanoparticles regulate the immune balance by inducing tolerogenic dendritic cells and amplifying regulatory T cells.
Biomater. Sci., 2023,11, 5931-5941
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3BM00767G
Effects of synbiotic supplementation on regulatory T cells’ response in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a randomized double-masked placebo-controlled trial
Synbiotic supplementation could modulate Treg cells’ response in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.
Food Funct., 2022,13, 12733-12741
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO01377K
Isomaltulose alleviates acute colitis via modulating gut microbiota and the Treg/Th17 balance in mice
Isomaltulose was found to be a promising therapeutic agent for the prevention and adjunctive treatment of UC by maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis and remodelling the gut microbiota.
Food Funct., 2022,13, 8572-8584
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO01157C
In situ injection of dual-delivery PEG based MMP-2 sensitive hydrogels for enhanced tumor penetration and chemo-immune combination therapy
Improving the deep penetration of nanoparticles and realizing the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy have become a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
Nanoscale, 2021,13, 9577-9589
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NR01155C
Chronic low-level cadmium exposure in rats affects cytokine production by activated T cells
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of subchronic, oral, low-dose cadmium exposure (32 ppm over 10 weeks) on the rat immune system. We found that cadmium exposure increased the induction of IFNγ and IL-10 in T cells activated ex vivo after cadmium exposure.
Toxicol. Res., 2019,8, 227-237
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TX00194D
A bifunctional nanomodulator for boosting CpG-mediated cancer immunotherapy
We reported a bifunctional nanomodulator that could induce immunogenic cell death and decrease the immunosuppressive microenvironment to boost CpG-mediated cancer immunotherapy.
Nanoscale, 2017,9, 14236-14247
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NR04396A
Biocompatibility assessment of type-II collagen and its polypeptide for tissue engineering: effect of collagen's molecular weight and glycoprotein content on tumor necrosis factor (Fas/Apo-1) receptor activation in human acute T-lymphocyte leukemia cell line
Fas cell surface death receptor activation by low molecular weight (57, 40 and 25 kDa) collagens was investigated based on MW and glycoprotein content.
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 14236-14246
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA24979A
Regulatory effects of resveratrol on glucose metabolism and T-lymphocyte subsets in the development of high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice
Resveratrol maintained glucose600 dpi in TIF format)??> homeostasis and alleviated T-lymphocyte subset-related inflammatory response in the development of high-fat-diet-induced obesity.
Food Funct., 2014,5, 1452-1463
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3FO60714C
Combinatorial delivery of immunosuppressive factors to dendritic cells using dual-sized microspheres
Microparticulate systems are beginning to show promise for delivery of modulatory agents for immunotherapeutic applications which modulate dendritic cell (DC) functions.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2562-2574
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21460E
First-in-class small molecule inhibitors of ICOS/ICOSL interaction as a novel class of immunomodulators
The interaction of the inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) with its ligand (ICOSL) plays key roles in T-cell differentiation and activation of T-cell to B-cell functions.
RSC Med. Chem., 2023,14, 1767-1777
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MD00150D
About this collection
To celebrate the 2025 Nobel Prize recipients, we have put together a collection of articles from across our RSC journals with related research in this field. This cross-journal collection celebrates the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine, highlighting work that develops on the groundbreaking contributions of Mary E. Brunkow (Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, USA), Fred Ramsdell (Sonoma Biotherapeutics, San Francisco, USA) and Shimon Sakaguchi (Osaka University, Osaka, Japan). Their work has transformed our understanding of how the immune system functions, opening new avenues for both fundamental research and practical application.
This collection showcases recent research published across 12 RSC journals relating to peripheral immune tolerance and regulatory T cells , including studies on the immune system, immunotherapy, and immunological applications demonstrating the widespread influence of this year’s highlighted research.
We hope this curated selection of articles not only celebrates the achievements of the 2025 laureates but also serves as a resource & inspiration for the global scientific community.