Vascular disorders, characterized
by vascular endothelial dysfunction
combined with inflammation, are correlated with numerous fatal diseases,
such as coronavirus disease-19 and atherosclerosis. Achieving vascular
normalization is an urgent problem that must be solved when treating
inflammatory vascular diseases. Inspired by the vascular regulatory
versatility of nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide
synthase (eNOS) catalyzing l-arginine (l-Arg), the
eNOS-activating effects of l-Arg, and the powerful anti-inflammatory
and eNOS-replenishing effects of budesonide (BUD), we constructed
a bi-prodrug minimalist nanoplatform co-loaded with BUD and l-Arg via polysialic acid (PSA) to form BUD-l-Arg@PSA. This
promoted vascular normalization by simultaneously regulating vascular
endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. Mediated by the special
affinity between PSA and E-selectin, which is highly expressed on
the surface of activated endothelial cells (ECs), BUD-l-Arg@PSA
selectively accumulated in activated ECs, targeted eNOS expression
and activation, and promoted NO production. Consequently, the binary
synergistic regulation of the NO/eNOS signaling pathway occurred and
improved vascular endothelial function. NO-induced nuclear factor-kappa
B alpha inhibitor (IκBα) stabilization and BUD-induced
nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) response gene site occupancy
achieved dual-site blockade of the NF-κB signaling pathway,
thereby reducing the inflammatory response and inhibiting the infiltration
of inflammation-related immune cells. In a renal ischemia-reperfusion
injury mouse model, BUD-l-Arg@PSA reduced acute injury. In
an atherosclerosis mouse model, BUD-l-Arg@PSA decreased atherosclerotic
plaque burden and improved vasodilation. This represents a revolutionary
therapeutic strategy for inflammatory vascular diseases.
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