Combined Shikonin-Loaded MPEG-PCL Micelles Inhibits Effective Transition of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Cells

Guanglin Li; Chenxu Shang; Qingqing Li; Lifang Chen; Zejun Yue; Lingxuan Ren; Jianjun Yang; Jiye Zhang; Weirong Wang

doi:10.2147/IJN.S374895

Combined Shikonin-Loaded MPEG-PCL Micelles Inhibits Effective Transition of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Cells

Int J Nanomedicine. 2022 Sep 24:17:4497-4508. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S374895. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Guanglin Li^{1

2}, Chenxu Shang³, Qingqing Li⁴, Lifang Chen^{1

2}, Zejun Yue^{1

2}, Lingxuan Ren³, Jianjun Yang³, Jiye Zhang⁴, Weirong Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory Animal Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
² Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
⁴ School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Introduction: Shikonin is well known for its anti-inflammatory activity in cardiovascular diseases. However, the application of shikonin is limited by its low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) is considered a promising delivery system for hydrophobic drugs. Therefore, in this study, we prepared shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles and investigated their effect on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) induced by inflammatory cytokines.

Methods: Shikonin was encapsulated in MPEG-PCL micelles using an anti-solvent method and the physiochemical characteristics of the micelles (particle size, zeta potential, morphology, critical micelle concentration (CMC), drug loading and encapsulation efficiency) were investigated. Cellular uptake of micelles in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy. In vitro EndMT inhibition was explored in HUVECs by quantitative real-time PCR analysis.

Results: The average particle size of shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles was 54.57±0.13 nm and 60 nm determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The zeta potential was -6.23±0.02 mV. The CMC of the micelles was 6.31×10^-7mol/L. The drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 0.88±0.08% and 43.08±3.77%, respectively. The MPEG-PCL micelles significantly improved the cellular uptake of cargo with low water solubility. Real-time PCR analysis showed that co-treatment with TNF-α and IL-1β successfully induced EndMT in HUVECs, whereas this process was significantly inhibited by shikonin and shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles, with greater inhibition mediated by the shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles.

Conclusion: Shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles significantly improved the EndMT-inhibiting effect of the free shikonin. MPEG-PCL is suitable for use more generally as a lipophilic drug carrier.

Keywords: EndMT; inflammation; shikonin; shikonin-loaded MPEG-PCL micelles.

MeSH terms

Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
Drug Carriers / chemistry
Endothelial Cells*
Humans
Micelles*
Naphthoquinones
Polyesters / chemistry
Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Water

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Drug Carriers
Micelles
Naphthoquinones
Polyesters
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
methoxy poly(ethylene glycol-co-epsilon-caprolactone)
Water
shikonin
Polyethylene Glycols

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81873520) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (2019JM-394).