Resolvin D1 can be effective in the treatment of inflammation in cystic fibrosis, but it needs to be delivered  in the organism. Silica and spermidine nanoparticles (SNPs) were used by the research team as Resolvin D1 transporters. In this project, researchers conducted experiments aimed at evaluating the synthesis and toxicity of SNPs. These experiments have shown that the nanoparticles can be easily synthesized and do not show toxic effects on either human cells or mouse after repeated administration and high doses.
The experiments conducted with mice lacking the CFTR protein subjected to infection with P. aeruginosa showed that the administration of SNPs containing the RvD1 substantially reduced the inflammation and the number of bacteria present in the lungs. Studies conducted with cells from volunteers with cystic fibrosis showed that SNPs containing RvD1 are capable of stimulating the antibacterial response of immune cells (neutrophils and macrophages) which are the first way of defense against infections.
Finally, further studies have begun to determine the effect of SNPs containing RvD1 on inflammation induced by excessive mucus accumulation, which will be completed in the second year (extension) of the project (FFC # 20/2021).
These results are encouraging as they confirm the researchers’ intuition, supported by the Foundation, that the use of resolvin D1 has important and beneficial effects in controlling the excessive inflammatory response in the lungs that afflicts people with cystic fibrosis despite the use of antibiotics and CFTR modulators or in those who have mutations that are not treatable by currently approved modulators.