Nanotherapeutics for inhibition of atherogenesis and modulation of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques

摘要

Aims Atherosclerotic development is exacerbated by two coupled pathophysiological phenomena in plaque-resident cells: modified lipid trafficking and inflammation. To address this therapeutic challenge, we designed and investigated the efficacy in vitro and ex vivo of a novel 'composite' nanotherapeutic formulation with dual activity, wherein the nanoparticle core comprises the antioxidant a-tocopherol and the shell is based on sugar-derived amphiphilic polymers that exhibit scavenger receptor binding and counteract atherogenesis.