Engineering biomimetic nanovesicles for PEBP1 mRNA delivery to inhibit ferroptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular condition characterized by the dilation of the abdominal aorta, with ferroptosis playing a significant role in its pathogenesis. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of engineering biomimetic nanovesicles to deliver phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 (PEBP1) mRNA for inhibiting ferroptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and preventing AAA progression. Differential gene expression analysis of the AAA transcriptomic dataset GSE57691 identified 243 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), intersecting with 12 ferroptosis-related genes. Single-cell analysis of dataset GSE237230 highlighted PEBP1 as a key gene in VSMCs. Overexpression of PEBP1 in VSMCs enhanced proliferation, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron levels, and inhibited apoptosis and ferroptosis via the NRF2/GPX4 axis. The engineered biomimetic nanovesicles demonstrated significant uptake by VSMCs and effective delivery of PEBP1 mRNA. In vivo studies confirmed that these nanovesicles substantially inhibited AAA progression in mice. This study presents a novel bioengineering approach for AAA treatment by targeting ferroptosis through PEBP1 mRNA delivery, offering a promising molecular strategy for the prevention and management of AAA.