Atherosclerosis is a leading contributor to coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and many strokes, primarily characterized by abnormal proliferation (hyperplasia) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This pathological process leads to plaque formation within arterial walls, which can impede blood flow and increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
Current treatments aim to reduce these risks but often come with significant side effects such as hepatotoxicity (liver damage), bleeding complications, and non-specific inhibition of various cell types, which can impair healing and cause other adverse effects.
In the paper entitled, A novel combination therapy of anti miR-21 and baculoviral TGFβ1 Gene via PLGA-gelatin-genipin nanocomposite hydrogel for arterial plaque stabilization and angiogenesis, researchers describe a combination therapy that demonstrates promising potential for plaque stabilization through multiple synergistic mechanisms.
A TGF-β1 and anti-miR-21 combination therapy in a PLGA nanocomposite gelatin-genipin hydrogel achieved high entrapment efficiency and excellent biocompatibility. The therapy demonstrates synergistic effects through promoting neo-vascularization via selective endothelial cell proliferation while inducing smooth muscle cell apoptosis to control ECM secretion and stabilize plaque. This could offer improved treatment of atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis by addressing both pathological vessel narrowing and endothelial regeneration, offering advantages over current non-selective approaches like drug-eluting stents.
Brookhaven Instruments is honored to learn our NanoBrook light scattering instrument was used to determine the size and zeta potential of the dual combination therapy PLGA nanoparticles embedded in the hydrogels used in this research.
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