Our results suggest that the mechanism of attenuated dilation is different for SiNPs and silica RBITC nanoparticles, which has implications for the future fabrication of biocompatible nanoparticles for imaging diagnostics.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with a total global cost of over $918 billion, by 2030. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have great potential for the delivery of drugs that can treat vessel disease. This paper provides the first description for the use of titania coated MSNs with increased vascular penetration, for the delivery of vasodilator drugs, without compromising overall vessel function. We demonstrate that titania coating of MSNs significantly improves their biocompatibility and uptake within aortic blood vessels and furthermore, enables a slower and more sustained release of the vasodilator drug, sodium nitroprusside within the vessel, thus making them an attractive strategy for the treatment of vascular disease.

Background Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) demonstrate clinical potential for drug delivery and imaging diagnostics. As AuNPs aggregate in physiological fluids, polymer-surface modifications are utilized to allow their stabilization and enhance their retention time in blood. However, the impact of AuNPs on blood vessel function remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AuNPs and their stabilizers on endothelial cell (EC) and vasodilator function. Materials and methods Citrate-stabilized AuNPs (12±3 nm) were synthesized and surface-modified using mercapto polyethylene glycol (mPEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymers. Their uptake by isolated ECs and whole vessels was visualized using transmission electron microscopy and quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Their biological effects on EC proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and the ERK1/2-signaling pathway were determined using automated cell counting, flow cytometry, and Western blotting, respectively. Endothelial-dependent and independent vasodilator functions were assessed using isolated murine aortic vessel rings ex vivo. Results AuNPs were located in endothelial endosomes within 30 minutes’ exposure, while their surface modification delayed this cellular uptake over time. After 24 hours’ exposure, all AuNPs (including polymer-modified AuNPs) induced apoptosis and decreased cell viability/proliferation. These inhibitory effects were lost after 48 hours’ exposure (except for the PVP-modified AuNPs). Furthermore, all AuNPs decreased acetylcholine (ACh)-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, a key signaling protein of cell function. mPEG-modified AuNPs had lower cytostatic effects than PVP-modified AuNPs. Citrate-stabilized AuNPs did not alter endothelial-dependent vasodilation induced by ACh, but attenuated endothelial-independent responses induced by sodium nitroprusside. PVP-modified AuNPs attenuated ACh-induced dilation, whereas mPEG-modified AuNPs did not, though this was dose-related. Conclusion We demonstrated that mPEG-modified AuNPs at a therapeutic dosage showed lower cytostatic effects and were less detrimental to vasodilator function than PVP-modified AuNPs, indicating greater potential as agents for diagnostic imaging and therapy.

Spherical mesoporous nanoparticles (MNPs) with a diameter of ∼100nm were synthesised via a sol-gel method in the presences of organic template (with and without fluorescein dye encapsulation). The template molecules were removed by acidic extraction to form a regular pore lattice structure. The nanoparticle size and morphology were analysed using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis. The MNPs were further characterised by zeta potential, nitrogen adsorption measurements and infra-red spectroscopy. The interior pores had an average diameter of ∼3nm and were loaded with an endothelial-independent vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The optimal drug loading and drug release was determined in high potassium physiological salt solution using dialysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the initial instantaneous release is due to the surface desorption of the drug followed by diffusion from the pores. Furthermore, these drug loaded MNPs (with and without fluorescein dye encapsulation) were added to viable aortic vessels and release in real-time was observed, ex vivo. MNPs and loaded with and without SNP were incubated with the vessel (at 1.96×10(12)NPmL(-1)) over a 3h time period. The real-time exposure to unloaded MNPs resulted in a small attenuation in constriction that occurred after approximately 1h. In contrast, MNPs loaded with SNP led to a rapid relaxation of aortic vessels that was sustained over the 3h period (p<0.001).

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