Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery System for Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

SummaryAdministration of drugs and other therapeutic agents has been the central strategy of contemporary medicine for cardiovascular disease. The use of a drug delivery system (DDS) is always demanded to enhance the efficacy and safety of therapeutic agents, and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of imaging agents. Nano-scale materials modify in vivo drug kinetics, depending on (patho)physiological mechanisms such as vascular permeability and incorporation by the mononuclear phagocyte system, which constitute 'passive-targeting' properties of nano-DDS. By contrast, an 'active-targeting' strategy employs a specific targeting structure on nano-DDS, which binds to the target molecule that is specific for a certain disease process, such as tumor specific antigens and the induction of adhesion molecules. In this review, we summarize recent studies that applied nano-DDS for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially focusing on atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Pathophysiological changes in atherosclerosis and myocardial IR injury are successfully targeted by nano-DDS and preclinical studies in animals showed positive effects of nano-DDS enhancing efficacy and reducing adverse effects. The development of nano-DDS in clinical medicine is keenly being awaited. (Int Heart J 2014; 55: 281-286)

Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of Pitavastatin to Monocytes/Macrophages Inhibits Left Ventricular Remodeling After Acute Myocardial Infarction by Inhibiting Monocyte-Mediated Inflammation

“…[14][15][16][17] We recently reported that nanoparticle-mediated delivery of pitavastatin showed significant therapeutic effects on pulmonary arterial hypertension, 18) restenosis, 19) ischemia-reperfusion injury, 20) and atherosclerosis 21) in animals by inhibiting the MCP1-CCR2 pathway. Because PLGA nanoparticles are delivered selectively to inflammatory cells (mainly monocytes) after intravenous administration, 21,22) it is suggested that monocyte-mediated inflammation plays an important role in the mechanism by which pitavastatin-NP exerted beneficial effects in these previous studies.…”

Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

“…(20)(21)(22) NPs are taken up by the target organ because of their small size and permeability and their retention effect. Drug release from NPs is controlled according to the NP composition.…”

“…Two polymers, poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), are used for the synthesis of FDA-approved polymeric biodegradable nano-DDS. (21,23) This type of nanoparticle can be used to achieve the sustained release of encapsulated drug, which takes place concomitantly with the degradation of PLA or PLGA. Various chemicals and nucleotides are incorporated in liposomes and polymers.…”

Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

“…Nanoparticles (NPs) have been used as a novel delivery system for the transport of drugs to target organs [19,20,21]. NPs are taken up by the target organ because of their small size, permeability, and retention effect.…”