A biomimetic macrophage-membrane-fused liposomal system loaded with GVs-HV recombinant plasmid for targeted anti-atherosclerosis therapy
Drug delivery study published in Pharmaceutics (2025)
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries leads to continuous growth and obstruction of blood vessels, which ultimately leads to acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Ultrasound-triggered GVs cavitation has great potential in plaque treatment due to its noninvasive nature and safety. Methods: In this work, we constructed a Hirudin-Gas Vesicle Recombinant Plasmid to achieve gene delivery using macrophage membrane/lipid membrane fusion bio-vesicles. Results: The bio-fusion vesicles retained the macrophage membrane protein integrin α4β1 to combine with vascular adhesion molecules highly expressed by inflammatory cells to achieve delivery; the Hirudin-Gas Vesicle Recombinant Plasmid could escape lysosomes and enter the nucleus to achieve highly efficient transfection; Hirudin and Gas Vesicles are exocytosed through cleavage peptide and exocytosis peptide, respectively; their pharmacological effects are linked and complementary. Gas vesicles can break up lesion plates with the assistance of in vitro ultrasound, and Hirudin achieves fragment ablation and anti-inflammatory and lipid regulation. Conclusions: GVs-HV@MM-Lipo exerts potent anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects with favorable safety. GVs-HV@Lipo reduces mice aortic arch plaque area by 17%, while GVs-HV@MM-Lipo+US achieves further plaque regression and improved hemodynamics. Our work opens up a new paradigm in the treatment of atherosclerosis with Chinese medicine.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Zusammenfassung
Macrophage-membrane-fused liposomal system with Hirudin-Gas-Vesicle recombinant plasmid achieving targeted gene delivery — ultrasound-triggered atherosclerotic plaque disruption with anti-inflammatory hirudin release.
Warum dies für die Hirudotherapie relevant ist
This study constructed a biomimetic macrophage-membrane-fused liposomal system loaded with a Hirudin-Gas Vesicle recombinant plasmid for targeted anti-atherosclerosis therapy, achieving plaque reduction and anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model. The system utilized macrophage membrane protein integrin α4β1 for targeted delivery, with ultrasound-triggered gas vesicle cavitation disrupting plaques and hirudin providing fragment ablation, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-regulating effects; GVs-HV@Lipo reduced aortic arch plaque area by 17%, while the macrophage membrane-fused version with ultrasound achieved further regression and improved hemodynamics. This is relevant to ASH as it explores hirudin's therapeutic potential beyond anticoagulation, including anti-inflammatory and lipid-regulating properties in atherosclerosis. The caveat is that this is a preclinical mouse study using a recombinant gene therapy approach rather than natural hirudin or leech therapy, and the relevance to traditional hirudotherapy is indirect.
Zitation
A biomimetic macrophage-membrane-fused liposomal system loaded with GVs-HV recombinant plasmid for targeted anti-atherosclerosis therapy.
Zhang Y et al. · Pharmaceutics, 2025
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