Targeting N-acetylglucosamine-bearing polymer-coated liposomes to vascular smooth muscle cells

J Artif Organs. 2011 Dec;14(4):301-9. doi: 10.1007/s10047-011-0595-3. Epub 2011 Aug 2.

Abstract

The targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents has great therapeutic potential for treating restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention. To develop a drug delivery system targeted to injured blood vessels, we examined whether N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-bearing polymer-coated liposomes (GlcNAc-Ls) are specifically taken up by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that GlcNAc-Ls were taken up by VSMCs in vitro. Furthermore, GlcNAc-Ls were intravenously administered to mice that had undergone wire-mediated vascular injury. GlcNAc-Ls markedly accumulated at the intramural site of the injured vessel walls but not at the contralateral (uninjured) vessel walls. These results demonstrated that GlcNAc-Ls can be specifically taken up by VSMCs both in vitro and in vivo. We propose a novel strategy of using GlcNAc-Ls that has potential for application in drug delivery targeted to injured blood vessels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / pharmacokinetics*
  • Angioplasty
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coronary Restenosis / therapy
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Liposomes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Muscle Cells / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / pharmacokinetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Vascular System Injuries / drug therapy
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interleukin-6
  • Liposomes
  • NF-kappa B
  • Vimentin
  • Acetylglucosamine