Loading Imatinib inside targeted nanoparticles to prevent Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 26;10(1):20726. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77828-y.

Abstract

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome seriously reduces long-term survival of lung transplanted patients. Up to now there is no effective therapy once BOS is established. Nanomedicine introduces the possibility to administer drugs locally into lungs increasing drug accumulation in alveola reducing side effects. Imatinib was loaded in gold nanoparticles (GNP) functionalized with antibody against CD44 (GNP-HCIm). Lung fibroblasts (LFs) were derived from bronchoalveolar lavage of BOS patients. GNP-HCIm cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, apoptosis/necrosis and phosphorylated-cAbl (cAbl-p). Heterotopic tracheal transplantation (HTT) mouse model was used to evaluate the effect of local GNP-HCIm administration by Alzet pump. GNP-HCIm decreased LFs viability compared to Imatinib (44.4 ± 1.8% vs. 91.8 ± 3.2%, p < 0.001), inducing higher apoptosis (22.68 ± 4.3% vs. 6.43 ± 0.29; p < 0.001) and necrosis (18.65 ± 5.19%; p < 0.01). GNP-HCIm reduced cAbl-p (0.41 GNP-HCIm, 0.24 Imatinib vs. to control; p < 0.001). GNP-HCIm in HTT mouse model by Alzet pump significantly reduced tracheal lumen obliteration (p < 0.05), decreasing apoptosis (p < 0.05) and TGF-β-positive signal (p < 0.05) in surrounding tissue. GNP-HCIm treatment significantly reduced lymphocytic and neutrophil infiltration and mast cells degranulation (p < 0.05). Encapsulation of Imatinib into targeted nanoparticles could be considered a new option to inhibit the onset of allograft rejection acting on BOS specific features.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bronchioles / drug effects*
  • Bronchioles / metabolism
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / metabolism
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / prevention & control*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gold / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
  • Imatinib Mesylate / pharmacology*
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metal Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Trachea / drug effects
  • Trachea / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Gold
  • Imatinib Mesylate