Effect of polymer nanoparticles on atherosclerotic lesions and the associated mechanisms: a review / 生物工程学报

Polymer nanoparticles generally refer to hydrophobic polymers-based nanoparticles, which have been extensively studied in the nanomedicine field due to their good biocompatibility, efficient long-circulation characteristics, and superior metabolic discharge patterns over other nanoparticles. Existing studies have proved that polymer nanoparticles possess unique advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and have been transformed from basic researches to clinical applications, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the inflammatory reaction induced by polymer nanoparticles would induce the formation of foam cells and autophagy of macrophages. In addition, the variations in the mechanical microenvironment of cardiovascular diseases may cause the enrichment of polymer nanoparticles. These could possibly promote the occurrence and development of AS. Herein, this review summarized the recent application of polymer nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of AS, as well as the relationship between polymer nanoparticles and AS and the associated mechanism, with the aim to facilitate the development of novel nanodrugs for the treatment of AS.

Endothelial injury and its repair strategies after intravascular stents implantation / 生物医学工程学杂志

Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is a serious threat to human life and health. In recent years, the main treatment for it is to implant the intravascular stent into the lesion to support blood vessels and reconstruct blood supply. However, a large number of experimental results showed that mechanical injury and anti-proliferative drugs caused great damage after stent implantation, and increased in-stent restenosis and late thrombosis risk. Thus, maintaining the integrity and normal function of the endothelium can significantly reduce the rate of thrombosis and restenosis. Stem cell mobilization, homing, differentiation and proliferation are the main mechanisms of endothelial repair after vascular stent implantation. Vascular factor and mechanical microenvironmental changes in implanted sites have a certain effect on re-endothelialization. In this paper, the process of injury caused by stent implantation, the repair mechanism after injury and its influencing factors are expounded in detail. And repairing strategies are analyzed and summarized. This review provides a reference for overcoming the in-stent restenosis, endothelialization delay and late thrombosis during the interventional treatment, as well as for designing drug-eluting and biodegradation stents.

Potential applications of beta-elemene in anti-atherosclerosis and anti-restenosis / 生物医学工程学杂志

It is well known that beta-elemene is a broadly effective antitumor drug. In recent years, many studies suggested that beta-elemene also has potential value in the treatment of atherosclerosis and restenosis. In this paper, the effect of beta-elemene in inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of thrombus formation, improvement of hemorheology, protection against oxidative injuries, anti-inflammation and suppression of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are summarized and reviewed.

Research progress of the drug-coated stents / 生物医学工程学杂志

Emplacing a stent in the coronary artery has many characteristics. The installation is easy to do and the stent has evident curative effect. However, it will cause thrombosis and immunoreaction because it is metal. So suburgent thrombosis and restenosis after surgeries are still two major complications. The drug-coated stent is one kind of the drug-eluting stents, whose metal surface is coated by some polymer that combines with a sort of effective drug or antibody. It can transport the drug or antibody to the localily of pathological changes and there in it improves the local drug concentration. In this paper the research progress of interrelated issues about the drug-coated stent is reviewed.