Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026
Dynamic Adhesion Assay for the Functional Analysis of Anti-adhesion Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Published on: September 20, 2018
Anti-inflammatory Nanomedicine for Cardiovascular Disease
Shunsuke Katsuki1,2, Tetsuya Matoba1, Jun-Ichiro Koga1,3
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Inflammation drives coronary artery disease. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nano-DDS) offer a novel approach to deliver anti-inflammatory statins, enhancing treatment for cardiovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Nanomedicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death, with inflammation playing a critical role in its development.
- Statins, primarily lipid-lowering drugs, offer additional vasculoprotective effects including anti-inflammatory actions.
- Residual cardiovascular risk persists despite statin therapy, highlighting the need for advanced anti-inflammatory strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nano-DDS) for targeted anti-inflammatory therapy in CAD.
- To review the development and application of nano-DDS for cardiovascular diseases.
- To present a novel polymeric nanoparticle-incorporating statin designed to maximize anti-inflammatory properties.
Main Methods:
- Review of current developments in drug delivery systems (DDS) and nanomedicine.
- Discussion of the 'passive-targeting' property of nano-DDS in the inflammatory milieu of CAD.
- Preclinical testing of a developed statin-loaded polymeric nanoparticle in various cardiovascular disease models.
Main Results:
- Nano-DDS demonstrate 'passive-targeting' to inflammatory sites in CAD due to enhanced nanoparticle uptake and lesion permeability.
- A novel statin-loaded polymeric nanoparticle has shown efficacy in preclinical models of plaque destabilization, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and post-myocardial infarction remodeling.
- Clinical application of the developed statin nanoparticle is currently in progress.
Conclusions:
- Nanomedicine, specifically nano-DDS, presents a promising strategy to directly intervene in the inflammatory processes of CAD.
- Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents via nano-DDS can potentially reduce residual cardiovascular risk beyond conventional lipid-lowering therapies.
- Further development and clinical translation of anti-inflammatory nanomedicine are crucial for managing life-threatening cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Coronary artery disease, in the development of which inflammation mediated by innate immune cells plays a critical role, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are a widely used lipid-lowering drug that has lipid-independent vasculoprotective effects, such as improvement of endothelial dysfunction, antioxidant properties, and inhibitory effects on inflammation. Despite recent advances in lipid-lowering therapy, clinical trials of statins suggest that anti-inflammatory therapy beyond lipid-lowering therapy is indispensible to further reduce cardiovascular events. One possible therapeutic option to the residual risk is to directly intervene in the inflammatory process by utilizing a nanotechnology-based drug delivery system (nano-DDS). Various nano-sized materials are currently developed as DDS, including micelles, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles. The application of nano-DDS to coronary artery disease is a feasible strategy since the inflammatory milieu enhances incorporation of nano-sized materials into mononuclear phagocytic system and permeability of target lesions, which confers nano-DDS on "passive-targeting" property. Recently, we have developed a polymeric nanoparticle-incorporating statin to maximize its anti-inflammatory property. This statin nanoparticle has been tested in various disease models, including plaque destabilization and rupture, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction, and its clinical application is in progress. In this review, we present current development of DDS and future perspective on the application of anti-inflammatory nanomedicine to treat life-threatening cardiovascular diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...