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

Authors: Ma, Yi; Ma, Yuxuan; Gao, Mengqiu; Han, Zhihao; Jiang, Wen; Gu, Yueqing; Liu, Yi

Published In Adv Sci (Weinh), (2021 Apr)

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.

PubMed ID: 33898191

MeSH Terms: Animals; Blood Platelets*; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Mice; Phototherapy/methods*; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diagnostic imaging*; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/therapy*; Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography/methods*