Abstract

Endosome capture is a major physiological barrier to the successful delivery of nanomedicine. Here, we found a strategy to deliver ultrasmall nanoparticles (<10 nm) to the cytosolic compartment of pyroptotic cells with spontaneous endosomal escape. To mimic pathological pyroptotic cells, J774A.1 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus nigericin (Nig) or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to form specific gasdermin D protein-driven membrane pores at an N-terminal domain (GSDMDNterm). Through GSDMDNterm membrane pores, both anionic and cationic nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters less than 10 nm were accessed into the cytosolic compartment of pyroptotic cells in an energy- and receptor-independent manner, while NPs larger than the size of GSDMDNterm membrane pores failed to enter pyroptotic cells. NPs pass through GSDMDNterm membrane pores via free diffusion and then access into the cytoplasm of pyroptotic cells in a microtubule-independent manner. Interestingly, we found that LPS-primed NPs may act as Trojan horse, deliver extracellular LPS into normal cells through endocytosis, and in turn induce GSDMDNterm membrane pores, which facilitate further internalization of NPs. This study presented a straightforward method of distinguishing normal and pyroptotic cells through GSDMD membrane pores, implicating their potential application in monitoring the delivery of desired nanomedicines in pyroptosis-related diseases and conditions.