There is provided a method for suppressing a pro-inflammatory immune response in a cell, comprising providing to a cell sialic acid or analogs thereof, wherein the sialic acid or analogs are presented by a substrate such that a pro-inflammatory immune response in a cell is suppressed or an anti-inflammatory immune response is increased in a cell. Further, there is provided a method of treatment of inflammatory disease in a subject in need thereof. There is also provided a drug delivery device and a biomaterial which can modulate the inflammatory response in a subject.