FIG. 6.

Targeted SNO nanofibers inhibit neointimal hyperplasia. (A) Arterial cross sections of carotid arteries 2 weeks after balloon injury using a 20× objective. (B) The targeted SNO nanofiber (0.5 mg) inhibited the intima-to-media area ratio by 55% versus no treatment (*p < 0.05 vs. no treatment, targeted nanofibers, and targeted SNO nanofibers). (C) The targeted SNO nanofiber decreased percent occlusion by 41% versus no treatment (*p < 0.05 vs. no treatment, targeted nanofibers, and targeted SNO nanofibers). N = 6/treatment group. (D) Representative images of immunofluorescence staining of macrophages (red) using a 20× objective. Green = elastic lamina; blue = nuclei. (E) Quantification of ED1-positive staining. N = 4–7/treatment group, *p < 0.05 compared with uninjured control. (F) The targeted SNO nanofiber (5 mg) continued to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia for 7 months. Representative hematoxylin and eosin-stained arterial cross sections of carotid arteries 7 months after balloon injury using a 20× objective. (G) Intima-to-media area ratio decreased 51% with the targeted S-nitrosothiol (SNO) nanofiber compared with control (*p < 0.001). N = 7/treatment group. (H) Percent occlusion decreased 45% with the targeted SNO nanofiber compared with control (*p = 0.001). N = 7/treatment group. To see this illustration in color, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/ars