Platelet-Mimicking Therapeutic System for Noninvasive Mitigation of the Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaques.

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque is the primary cause of cardiovascular disorders and remains a therapeutic hurdle for the early intervention of atherosclerosis. Traditional clinical strategies are often limited by surgery-related complications or unsatisfactory effects of long-term drug administration. Inspired by the plaque-binding ability of platelets, a biomimic photodynamic therapeutic system is designed to mitigate the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. This system is composed of photosensitizer-loaded upconversion nanoparticle cores entrapped in the platelet membrane. The platelet membrane coating facilitates specific targeting of the therapeutic system to macrophage-derived foam cells, the hallmark, and main component of early stage atherosclerotic plaques, which is firmly confirmed by in vivo fluorescent and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) radionuclide imaging. Importantly, in vivo phototherapy guided by SPECT/CT imaging alleviates plaque progression. Further immunofluorescence analysis reveals foam cell apoptosis and ameliorated inflammation. This biomimic system, which combines plaque-binding with radionuclide imaging guidance, is a novel, noninvasive, and potent strategy to mitigate the progression of atherosclerotic plaque.

• Authors: Yi Ma, Yuxuan Ma, Mengqiu Gao, Zhihao Han, Wen Jiang, Yueqing Gu, Yi Liu
• Journal: Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (Adv Sci (Weinh)) Vol. 8 Issue 8 Pg. 2004128 (04 2021) ISSN: 2198-3844 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 33898191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Platelets
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Mice
• Phototherapy (methods)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography (methods)