Synthesis and characterization of peptide conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles for targeted cardiac uptake and drug delivery

PLoS One. 2021 Sep 30;16(9):e0254305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254305. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Congestive heart failure, a prominent cardiovascular disease results primarily from myocardial infarction or ischemia. Milrinone (MRN), a widely used clinical drug for heart failure, improves myocardial contractility and cardiac function through its inotropic and vasodilatory effects. However, lacking target specificity, it exhibits low bioavailability and lower body retention time. Therefore, in this study, angiotensin II (AT1) peptide conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles (AT1-HSA-MRN-NPs) have been synthesized for targeted delivery of MRN to the myocardium, overexpressing AT1 receptors under heart failure. The NPs were surface functionalized through a covalent conjugation reaction between HSA and AT1. Nanoparticle size was 215.2±4.7 nm and zeta potential -28.8±2.7 mV and cumulative release of MRN was ~72% over 24 hrs. The intracellular uptake of nanoparticles and cell viability was studied in H9c2 cells treated with AT1-MRN-HSA-NPs vs the control non-targeted drug, MRN Lactate under normal, hypoxic and hypertrophic conditions. The uptake of AT1-HSA-MRN-NPs in H9c2 cells was significantly higher as compared to non-targeted nanoparticles, and the viability of H9c2 cells treated with AT1-MRN-HSA-NPs vs MRN Lactate was 73.4±1.4% vs 44.9±1.4%, respectively. Therefore, AT1-HSA-MRN-NPs are safe for in vivo use and exhibit superior targeting and drug delivery characteristics for treatment of heart failure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Cardiotonic Agents / chemistry
  • Cardiotonic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Milrinone / chemistry
  • Milrinone / pharmacology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Serum Albumin, Human / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Milrinone
  • Serum Albumin, Human

Grants and funding

This work is supported by the research funding granted to Dr. Satya Prakash by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grant (CIHR-PJT-166003). No additional external funding was received for this study.