Carbon dots derived from gingers for inhibiting inflammatory osteolysis

Abstract

Inflammatory osteolysis, driven by excessive osteoclast activation, remains a clinical challenge requiring therapies that simultaneously suppress bone resorption and inflammation. Here, we developed ginger-derived carbon dots (G-CDs) via a facile hydrothermal method as sustainable nanotherapeutic agents. The G-CDs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, potent reactive oxygen species scavenging ability, and significant anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating key cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and iNOS. Mechanistically, G-CDs inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway, as evidenced by reduced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα and p65. This suppression led to decreased expression of osteoclastogenic markers (c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP, CTSK and DC-STAMP), disrupted F-actin ring formation, and impaired bone resorption activity. In an LPS-induced mice calvarial osteolysis model, G-CDs significantly alleviated bone destruction and osteoclast activation in a dose-dependent manner. These findings highlight G-CDs as a multifunctional and ecologically friendly nanomaterial with great potential for treating inflammatory osteolytic diseases.