Thrombus-targeting nanosystems: Differential performance in arterial and venous circulation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanomedicine
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Hemodynamic differences between arterial and venous systems present challenges for nanomedicine-based thrombus targeting.
• Effective delivery of nanotherapeutics to thrombi requires strategies that account for local blood flow dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of three distinct thrombus-targeting strategies in arterial and venous thrombus models.
• To elucidate the impact of hemodynamics on the performance of nanomedicine delivery systems for thrombus treatment.

Main Methods:

• Construction and evaluation of molecular recognition-based, enzyme-driven chemotactic, and combined thrombus-targeting strategies.
• Systematic comparison of targeting capability and thrombolytic efficacy in both arterial and venous thrombus models.

Main Results:

• Thrombus-targeting capability is significantly influenced by thrombus type and local hemodynamics.
• In venous thrombi (low flow), enzyme-driven chemotactic motion showed superior performance, similar to combined targeting.
• In arterial thrombi (high flow), the combined strategy demonstrated synergistic advantages, outperforming single targeting approaches.

Conclusions:

• Different nanomedicine targeting strategies exhibit differential applicability in various hemodynamic environments.
• Insights gained inform the rational design of precision nanomedicine delivery systems for heterogeneous thrombi.