Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Enzymatic Properties Reduce Cytokine Release Syndrome

A core–shell molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticle with biological enzyme functional characteristics was developed by oxidative polymerization of template protein and polydopamine on the surface of protease–copper phosphate hybrid nanoflowers by molecular imprinting technology and enzyme immobilization technology. The obtained molecularly imprinted polymer showed specific binding characteristics with the template protein. It recognized and enriched the target molecules through the surface molecularly imprinted sites of the shell structure. In addition, the bound target molecules were further degraded into fragments by nanozymes with biological enzyme characteristics in the core. In this study, molecular imprinting technology and biotechnology were combined to obtain bifunctional molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles that can not only enrich template molecules but also degrade them into fragments. Herein, we selected interleukin 6 (IL-6), the target molecule of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), as a template molecule, and reported a molecularly imprinted polymer with degrading enzyme properties that can rapidly reduce IL-6 levels in vivo, including a molecularly imprinted layer that can recognize and bind IL-6 and nanozymes that can degrade IL-6 and deactivate it. It is used to clear the excessive secretion of IL-6 in CRS and reduce the level of IL-6 in the body to achieve the purpose of adjuvant treatment of CRS.