Biomimetic nanoparticles co-deliver hirudin and lumbrukinase to ameliorate thrombus and inflammation for atherosclerosis therapy
Basic science / drug development published in Asian J Pharm Sci (2024)
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disease, and thrombosis most likely leads to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally. Thrombolytic drugs alone cannot completely prevent thrombotic events, and treatments targeting thrombosis also need to regulate the inflammatory process. Based on the dynamic pathological development of AS, biomimetic thrombus-targeted nanoparticles HMTL@PM were prepared. Hirudin and lumbrukinase, effective substances of traditional Chinese medicine, were self-assembled under the action of tannic acid and Mn2+. HMTL@PM dissociated in the weakly acidic microenvironment of atherosclerosis and exhibited excellent therapeutic effects, including alleviating inflammation, dissolving thrombus, anticoagulation, and promoting cholesterol efflux. HMTL@PM effectively regulated the progression of AS and provided a new perspective for the development of drug delivery systems for AS therapy, which holds important research significance for reducing the mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Biomimetic thrombus-targeted nanoparticles (HMTL@PM) co-deliver hirudin and lumbrukinase, self-assembled with tannic acid and Mn2+. They dissociate in weakly acidic conditions, alleviating inflammation, dissolving thrombus, anticoagulating and promoting cholesterol efflux in atherosclerosis.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study developed biomimetic thrombus-targeted nanoparticles (HMTL@PM) that co-deliver hirudin and lumbrukinase — described in the abstract as effective substances of traditional Chinese medicine — self-assembled using tannic acid and Mn²⁺ for atherosclerosis therapy. The nanoparticles dissociated in the weakly acidic atherosclerotic microenvironment and were reported to alleviate inflammation, dissolve thrombus, provide anticoagulation, and promote cholesterol efflux, thereby regulating atherosclerosis progression. The abstract frames hirudin solely as a traditional Chinese medicine substance. The honest caveat is that this is a preclinical formulation study with no clinical data, and the abstract provides no quantitative in vivo efficacy, safety, or comparison with free hirudin.
Citation
Reference (Vancouver style)
Cheng M, Yue T, Wang H, Jiang L, Huang Q, Li F. Biomimetic nanoparticles co-deliver hirudin and lumbrukinase to ameliorate thrombus and inflammation for atherosclerosis therapy. Asian J Pharm Sci. 2025;20(1):100990. doi:10.1016/j.ajps.2024.100990. PMID: 39917726
Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.
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