Table 5.

Nanoparticle strategies for the delivery of peptides to the atherosclerotic plaque.

Therapeutic Agent	Nanoparticle	Key nanoparticle materials	Size/Charge	Loading capacity (LC) and loading efficiency (LE)	Route of delivery	Injected dose	Model	Targeting strategy	Key Findings	Reference
IL-10	Polymeric Nanoparticle	PLGA-PEG	between 76.23 ± 1.1 nm and 212.66 ± 9.5 nm; −32 to −8 mV	LE = between 65.57% and 98.19% LC = between 1.75% and 2.62% (w/w % of polymer mass)	IV injection	5 μg of IL-10 per injection	Ldlr−/− mice	Collagen IV binding peptide (CGGGKPLVWLK) targeting collagen IV	Decreased necrotic core Increased lesional efferocytosis Thicker fibrous cap	[133]
Annexin A1 mimetic peptide (Ac2-26)	Polymeric Nanoparticle	PLGA-PEG	<100 nm < −30 mV	LC = 4% Ac2-26 (w/w)	IV injection	10 μg of peptide per injection	Ldlr−/− mice	Collagen IV binding peptide (CGGGKPLVWLK) targeting collagen IV; Ac2-26 peptide (AMVSEFLKQAWFIENEEQEYVQTVK) binds to the N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX) expressed on macrophages	Selective binding to the plaque in Col IV–Ac2-26 NPs compared with NPs without Col IV binding peptide Significant decrease in plaque area and necrotic core in the treatment group vs the control group Increased fibrous cap thickness stabilising plaque preventing likelihood of rupture	[134]