Biomimetic nanoparticle technology for cardiovascular disease detection and treatment

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which encompasses a number of conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels, presents a major challenge for modern-day healthcare. Nearly one in three people has some form of CVD, with many suffering from multiple or intertwined conditions that can ultimately lead to traumatic events such as a heart attack or stroke. While the knowledge obtained in the past century regarding the cardiovascular system has paved the way for the development of life-prolonging drugs and treatment modalities, CVD remains one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. More recently, researchers have explored the application of nanotechnology to improve upon current clinical paradigms for the management of CVD. Nanoscale delivery systems have many advantages, including the ability to target diseased sites, improve drug bioavailability, and carry various functional payloads. In this review, we cover the different ways in which nanoparticle technology can be applied towards CVD diagnostics and treatments. The development of novel biomimetic platforms with enhanced functionalities is discussed in detail.

Figure 1.

Biomimetic nanotechnology for cardiovascular disease (CVD) management. Nanoparticle delivery platforms designed based on biomimetic principles can more readily be targeted to disease sites within the cardiovascular system. When combined with the advantages of traditional nanodelivery systems, the enhanced localization of imaging and drug payloads afforded by biomimetic nanotechnology can ultimately enable the development of more effective diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for CVD, respectively.

Figure 2.

Nanoparticle-based diagnostic for CVD. (a) An ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticle functionalized with a ^99mTc label and annexin V can target apoptotic cells at the site of atherosclerosis, which present phosphatidylserine on their surfaces, for dual-modality imaging. (b) When the nanoimaging agent was administered into mice with atherosclerosis, plaques could readily be detected by both MRI and SPECT. Adapted with permission. Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society.

Figure 3.

Nanoparticle-based therapeutic for CVD. (a) Schematic representation of a reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticle loaded with simvastatin ([S]-rHDL), along with an accompanying transmission electron micrograph. (b) Fluorescence molecular tomography/CT imaging of protease activity demonstrated that atherosclerotic mice treated with a high dose of [S]-rHDL had significantly reduced inflammation levels. (c,d) Quantification of mean plaque area (c) and plaque macrophage content (d) demonstrated the benefits of treatment with [S]-rHDL. Adapted with permission. Copyright 2014, Springer Nature.

Figure 4.

Biomimetic nanoparticle-based diagnostic for CVD. (a) Platelet-functionalized nanobubbles (PNBs) can be used to target stroke lesions via a number of natural biological interactions for imaging purposes. (b) Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in mice administered with the PNB formulation could be used to identify the region of a stroke. Adapted with permission. Copyright 2018, Ivyspring International Publisher.

Figure 5.

Biomimetic nanoparticle-based therapeutic for CVD. (a) Platelet membrane-coated nanoparticles (PNPs) take on many of the properties of whole platelets, including their immunocompatibility and ability to bind to damaged vasculature. (b) When used to treat rats in a coronary restenosis model, PNPs loaded with docetaxel (Dtxl) had a profound impact on the neointimal growth within the affected vessels. Adapted with permission. Copyright 2015, Springer Nature.