American Society of Hirudotherapy

Combined drug anti-deep vein thrombosis therapy based on platelet membrane biomimetic targeting nanotechnology

Basic science / preclinical published in Biomaterials (2024)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Research reportDrug DevelopmentSalivary PharmacologyXiao H et al. · Biomaterials, 2024

Abstract

After orthopedic surgeries, such as hip replacement, many patients are prone to developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which in severe cases can lead to fatal pulmonary embolism or major bleeding. Clinical intervention with high-dose anticoagulant therapy inevitably carries the risk of bleeding. Therefore, a targeted drug delivery system that adjusts local DVT lesions and potentially reduces drug dosage and toxic side effects important. In this study, we developed a targeted drug delivery platelet-derived nanoplatform (AMSNP@PM-rH/A) for DVT treatment that can simultaneously deliver a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) Recombinant Hirudin (rH), and the Factor Xa inhibitor Apixaban (A) by utilizing Aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (AMSNP). This formulation exhibits improved biocompatibility and blood half-life and can effectively eliminate deep vein thrombosis lesions and achieve therapeutic effects at half the dosage. Furthermore, we employed various visualization techniques to capture the targeted accumulation and release of a platelet membrane (PM) coating in deep vein thrombosis and explored its potential targeting mechanism.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsVenous ThrombosisBlood PlateletsPyridonesAnimalsHumansHirudinsPyrazolesNanoparticlesDrug Delivery SystemsNanotechnologyMaleSilicon Dioxide

Summary

Aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with platelet membrane co-delivering recombinant hirudin and apixaban for targeted DVT therapy. Achieves DVT lesion elimination at half conventional dosage.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This study developed a platelet membrane-coated nanoparticle drug delivery platform (AMSNP@PM-rH/A) that co-delivers recombinant hirudin (rH), described in the abstract as a direct thrombin inhibitor, and apixaban (A), a Factor Xa inhibitor, for targeted treatment of deep vein thrombosis after orthopedic surgery. The formulation showed improved biocompatibility and blood half-life, effectively eliminated DVT lesions at half the dosage, and various visualization techniques confirmed targeted accumulation and release at thrombus sites. For ASH's domain, this represents a nanomedicine application of recombinant hirudin in a targeted drug delivery system. The abstract does not attribute hirudin to leech origin or leech saliva. The caveat is that this is a preclinical study; the abstract does not specify the animal model, provide quantitative comparisons with standard-of-care, or report bleeding-risk safety data, and no human data are included.

Citation

Combined drug anti-deep vein thrombosis therapy based on platelet membrane biomimetic targeting nanotechnology.

Xiao H et al. · Biomaterials, 2024

Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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