Polymer Capsules for Plaque-Targeted In Vivo Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials science
• Polymer chemistry
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Atherosclerotic plaques pose significant health risks.
• Targeted drug delivery systems are needed to treat unstable plaques.
• Polymer capsules offer potential for targeted delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate targeted polymer capsules for selective binding to unstable atherosclerotic plaques.
• To optimize capsule formulation for stability and drug retention.
• To assess the in vivo performance of these targeted capsules in a mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of hybrid synthetic/biopolymer polymer capsules.
• Incorporation of pH-sensitive (PDPA) and low-binding (PEG) blocks.
• Postfunctionalization using click chemistry for peptide targeting.
• Intravenous injection and in vivo evaluation in mice.

Main Results:

• Targeted polymer capsules demonstrated selective binding to unstable plaques in mice.
• Hybrid synthetic/biopolymer capsules exhibited enhanced stability.
• Optimal formulation achieved superior small-molecule drug retention.
• Targeting peptides facilitated specific plaque accumulation.

Conclusions:

• Targeted polymer capsules, particularly the hybrid synthetic/biopolymer formulation, show promise for treating unstable atherosclerotic plaques.
• The developed system offers improved stability and drug retention for targeted delivery.
• This approach may lead to more effective therapies for atherosclerosis.