Anti-JNK2 peptide-siRNA nanostructures improve plaque endothelium and reduce thrombotic risk in atherosclerotic mice.

Background: A direct and independent role of inflammation in atherothrombosis was recently highlighted by the Canakinumab Antiinflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study (CANTOS) trial, showing the benefit of inhibiting signaling molecules, eg, interleukins. Accordingly, we sought to devise a flexible platform for preventing the inflammatory drivers at their source to preserve plaque endothelium and mitigate procoagulant risk.

Methods: p5RHH-siRNA nanoparticles were formulated through self-assembly processes.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Studies of Gold Nanoparticle Templated HDL-like Nanoparticles for Cholesterol Metabolism Therapeutics.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays an important role in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol. Mimics of HDL are being explored as potentially powerful therapeutic agents for removing excess cholesterol from arterial plaques. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with apolipoprotein A-I and with the lipids 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate] have been demonstrated to be robust acceptors of cellular cholesterol.

Antithrombin nanoparticles inhibit stent thrombosis in ex vivo static and flow models.

Objective: Despite significant advances in intravascular stent technology, safe prevention of stent thrombosis over prolonged periods after initial deployment persists as a medical need to decrease device failure. The objective of this project was to assess the potential of perfluorocarbon nanoparticles (NP) conjugated with the direct thrombin inhibitor D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl chloromethylketone (PPACK-NP) to inhibit stent thrombosis.

Methods: In a static model of stent thrombosis, 3 × 3-mm pieces of stainless steel coronary stents were cut and adsorbed with thrombin to create a procoagulant surface that would facilitate thrombus development.

Inhibition of Thrombin With PPACK-Nanoparticles Restores Disrupted Endothelial Barriers and Attenuates Thrombotic Risk in Experimental Atherosclerosis.

Objective: A role for thrombin in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been suggested through clinical and experimental studies revealing a critical link between the coagulation system and inflammation. Although approved drugs for inhibition of thrombin and thrombin-related signaling have demonstrated efficacy, their clinical application to this end may be limited because of significant potential for bleeding side effects. Thus, we sought to implement a plaque-localizing nanoparticle-based approach to interdict thrombin-induced inflammation and hypercoagulability in atherosclerosis.

Delivery of a Protease-Activated Cytolytic Peptide Prodrug by Perfluorocarbon Nanoparticles.

Melittin is a cytolytic peptide derived from bee venom that inserts into lipid membranes and oligomerizes to form membrane pores. Although this peptide is an attractive candidate for treatment of cancers and infectious processes, its nonspecific cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity have limited its therapeutic applications. Several groups have reported the development of cytolytic peptide prodrugs that only exhibit cytotoxicity following activation by site-specific proteases.

Molecular imaging of atherosclerosis with nanoparticle-based fluorinated MRI contrast agents.

As atherosclerosis remains one of the most prevalent causes of patient mortality, the ability to diagnose early signs of plaque rupture and thrombosis represents a significant clinical need. With recent advances in nanotechnology, it is now possible to image specific molecular processes noninvasively with MRI, using various types of nanoparticles as contrast agents. In the context of cardiovascular disease, it is possible to specifically deliver contrast agents to an epitope of interest for detecting vascular inflammatory processes, which serve as predecessors to atherosclerotic plaque development.

Quantifying progression and regression of thrombotic risk in experimental atherosclerosis.

Currently, there are no generally applicable noninvasive methods for defining the relationship between atherosclerotic vascular damage and risk of focal thrombosis. Herein, we demonstrate methods to delineate the progression and regression of vascular damage in response to an atherogenic diet by quantifying the in vivo accumulation of semipermeable 200-300 nm perfluorocarbon core nanoparticles (PFC-NP) in ApoE null mouse plaques with [(19)F] magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Permeability to PFC-NP remained minimal until 12 weeks on diet, then increased rapidly following 12 weeks, but regressed to baseline within 8 weeks after diet normalization.

Modifications of natural peptides for nanoparticle and drug design.

Natural products serve as an important source of novel compounds for drug development. Recently, peptides have emerged as a new class of therapeutic agents due to their versatility and specificity for biological targets. Yet, their effective application often requires use of a nanoparticle delivery system.

Antithrombin nanoparticles improve kidney reperfusion and protect kidney function after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

In the extension phase of acute kidney injury, microvascular thrombosis, inflammation, vasoconstriction, and vascular endothelial cell dysfunction promote progressive damage to renal parenchyma after reperfusion. In this study, we hypothesized that direct targeting and pharmaceutical knockdown of activated thrombin at the sites of injury with a selective nanoparticle (NP)-based thrombin inhibitor, PPACK (phenylalanine-proline-arginine-chloromethylketone), would improve kidney reperfusion and protect renal function after transient warm ischemia in rodent models. Saline- or plain NP-treated animals were employed as controls.

Thrombin-targeted liposomes establish a sustained localized anticlotting barrier against acute thrombosis.

The goal of the present work was to design and test an acute-use nanoparticle-based antithrombotic agent that exhibits sustained local inhibition of thrombin without requiring a systemic anticoagulant effect to function against acute arterial thrombosis. To demonstrate proof of concept, we functionalized the surface of liposomes with multiple copies of the direct thrombin inhibitor, d-phenylalanyl-l-prolyl-l-arginyl-chloromethyl ketone (PPACK), which exhibits high affinity for thrombin as a free agent but manifests too rapid clearance in vivo to be effective alone. The PPACK-liposomes were formulated as single unilamellar vesicles, with a diameter of 170.