TABLE III.
Organic NPs for drug delivery in atherosclerosis.
| Organic NPs | Drug | Cell/molecular targeting | Animal model | Therapeutic effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polymeric NPs | Rapamycin, atorvastatin, methotrexate, pioglitazone, LXR agonist GW3965 | Human umbilical vein vessel endothelial cells (HUVECs), RAW264.7 cells, macrophages, monocytes and macrophages, CD68+ macrophages | ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, LDLR−/− mice | The average area ratio of plaque to the vascular lumen was reduced by 11.77%, 5.68%, and 0.72% in the aorta root, aortic arch, and abdominal aorta, respectively.95 TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-1α, and ICAM-1 levels were significantly reduced, and the plaque area was reduced by 69%.96 TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly reduced, and the plaque burden was reduced by 50%.97 Significantly decreased the number of inflammatory monocytes and buried fibrous caps, increased the fibrous cap thickness, and inhibited atherosclerotic plaque rupture.98 The secretion of MCP-1 and TNF-α was significantly suppressed, and the CD68+ area was reduced by 50%.99 |
| Liposomes | Quercetin, LXR agonist GW3965, pioglitazone, atorvastatin calcium and curcumin | Macrophages, foam cells, endothelial cells and M1 macrophages, endothelial cells | ApoE−/− mice, LDLR−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice | Decreased the area of aortic lesion to 8.6%.106 The macrophage content was significantly decreased (twofold). The collagen percentage in plaques was significantly increased (threefold)16. Slightly reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area in the aortic root and remarkably increased the content of collagen in plaques.107 The percentage of the thoracic aortic plaque area was decreased to 17.14%.108 |
| Micelles | Rapamycin, simvastatin, berberine, prednisolone, celastrol, andrographolide | HUVECs and RAW264.7 cells, RAW264.7 cells, macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, RAW264.7 cells, RAW264.7 cells | ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice, LDLR−/− mice, ApoE−/− mice | Reduced the aortic plaque area to 5.67% and 4.89%.111 Significantly reduced the lesion area.112 Significantly inhibited cholesteryl content in the aortic artery.113 Significantly reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area in the aortic arch and decreased the lipid-rich necrotic core area.114 The plaque area was significantly decreased.115 Significantly reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area in the aortic root.116 |