Cerebral ischemia/
reperfusion injury (CIRI) is closely related to
mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes. Therefore, based on
glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which is highly expressed in the brain tissue of rats with CIRI, we design a kind of brain-targeted
dexmedetomidine (Man@Dex) nanomicelles. The results showed that Man@Dex not only had the advantages of small particle size, stability and non-toxicity, but also realized brain-targeted drug delivery. Primary astrocytes were cultured in vitro to construct CIRI cell model. It was found that Man@Dex could improve the activity of injured astrocytes. Man@Dex could exert
antioxidant activity by inhibiting the
reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of astrocytes, thus inhibiting the cytotoxicity induced by
hypoxia and reoxygenation. Man@Dex could improve the
ATP level and mitochondrial membrane potential (
MMP) to protect mitochondrial function of damaged astrocytes. The CIRI rat model was constructed and confirmed by
hematoxylin and
eosin (HE), Triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium
chloride (TTC) staining and nerve defect score. It indicated that Man@Dex could alleviate CIRI and improve
MMP, which was beneficial to the recovery of
brain injury in rats. This research provides a new theoretical basis and target for the development of brain-targeted nano-drugs of CIRI.