Neutrophil/monocyte-targeted dual-ligands modified liposomes delivering puerarin for ischemia stroke treatment

Extremely low actual biological effect of insoluble small molecule drugs in ischemia region is a pain point and aporia in Ischemia Stroke (IS) therapy, Although there are studies on single, double-ligands modified liposomes or biomimetic exogenous carriers for directly targeting IS so far, but they often have off-target effects due to they were swallowed, degraded directly (instability) and sabotaged without the help of endogenous cell in the systemic circulation. DSPE-PEG₃₄₀₀-PGP (PGP) and DSPE-PEG₃₄₀₀-cRGD (cRGD) were synthesized via michael addition reaction of maleimide (-Mal) with sulfhydryl (-SH), succinimidyl ester (-NHS) with active primary amine group (-NH₂) respectively. The cRGD and PGP were modified on liposomes by thin film hydration method. Optimal modified ratio of cRGD and PGP were achieved by cellular uptake of HL-60 cells and THP-1 cells in vitro. The precise targeting effects of cRGD/PGP-Lips were examined in a nude MCAO model by an in a vivo imaging system. Puerarin (Pue) was cleverly encapsulated using a calcium acetate gradient to construct cRGD/PGP-Pue-Lips, and its therapeutic efficiency were assessed by rat MCAO model of IS. Optimal modification ratio for both cRGD and PGP were 3 %. The cRGD/PGP-Lips had significant synergetic targeting efficiency in vitro and in vivo, and the encapsulation efficiency of Pue were greater than 80 % through calcium acetate gradient. The cRGD/PGP-Pue-Lips could effectively penetrate BBB and enhance Pue retention on the brain ischemia region in vivo, resulting in a nearly two-fold reduction significantly in cerebral infarction area and edema in rats. In addition, cRGD/PGP-Pue-Lips didn't cause systemic toxicity in major organ tissues. Precise dual-ligands modified nanocarrier targeting endogenous cells is highly competitive as a novel anti-stroke and perspective for treatment of IS.