Cerium dioxide nanoparticles modulate antioxidant defences and change vascular response in the human saphenous vein

A self-sacrificing anti-inflammatory coating promotes simultaneous cardiovascular repair and reendothelialization of implanted devices

During interventional surgeries of implantable cardiovascular devices in addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the inevitable tissue damage will trigger host inflammation and vascular lumen injury, leading to delayed re-endothelization and intimal hyperplasia. Endowing cardiovascular implants with anti-inflammatory and endothelialization functions is conducive to the target site, offering significant tissue repair and regeneration benefits. Herein, inspired by the snake's molting process, a ShedWise device was developed by using the poly(propylene fumarate) polyurethane (PPFU) as the foundational material, which was clicked with hyperbranched polylysine (HBPL) and followed by conjugation with pro-endothelial functional Arg-Glu-Asp-Val peptide (REDV), and finally coated with a "self-sacrificing" layer having reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging ability and degradability. During the acute inflammation in the initial stage of implantation, the ROS-responsive hyperbranched poly(acrylate-capped thioketone-containing ethylene glycol (HBPAK) coating effectively modulated the level of environmental inflammation and resisted initial protein adsorption, showcasing robust tissue protection. As the coating gradually "sacrificed", the exposed hyperbranched HBPL-REDV layer recruited specifically endothelial cells and promoted surface endothelialization. In a rat vascular injury model, the ShedWise demonstrated remarkable efficiency in reducing vascular restenosis, protecting the injured tissue, and fostering re-endothelization of the target site. This innovative design will introduce a novel strategy for surface engineering of cardiovascular implants and other medical devices.

Sodium valproate treatment reverses endothelial dysfunction in aorta from rabbits with acute myocardial infarction

Sodium valproate (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, could be a promising candidate to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, AMI was induced in New Zealand White rabbits by occluding the left circumflex coronary artery for 1 h, followed by reperfusion. The animals were distributed into three experimental groups: the sham-operated group (SHAM), the AMI group and the AMI + VPA group (AMI treated with VPA 500 mg/kg/day). After 5 weeks, abdominal aorta was removed and used for isometric recording of tension in organ baths or protein expression by Western blot, and plasma for the determination of nitrate/nitrite (NOx) levels by colorimetric assay. Our results indicated that AMI induced a reduction of the endothelium-dependent response to acetylcholine without modifying the endothelium-independent response to sodium nitroprusside, leading to endothelial dysfunction. VPA treatment reversed AMI-induced endothelial dysfunction and even increased NO sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle. This response was consistent with an antioxidant effect of VPA, as it was able to reverse the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD 1) down-regulation induced by AMI. Our experiments also ruled out that the VPA mechanism was related to eNOS, iNOS, sGC and arginase expression or changes in NOx plasma levels. Therefore, we conclude that VPA improves vasodilation by increasing NO bioavailability, likely due to its antioxidant effect. Since endothelial dysfunction was closely related to AMI, VPA treatment could increase aortic blood flow, making it a potential agent in reperfusion therapy that can prevent the vascular damage.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Cardiovascular Diseases

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability. While there are many therapeutic alternatives available for the management of CVDs, the majority of classic therapeutic strategies were found to be ineffective at stopping or significantly/additionally slowing the progression of these diseases, or they had unfavorable side effects. Numerous metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) have been created to overcome these limitations, demonstrating encouraging possibilities in the treatment of CVDs due to advancements in nanotechnology. Metallic nanomaterials, including gold, silver, and iron, come in various shapes, sizes, and geometries. Metallic NPs are generally smaller and have more specialized physical, chemical, and biological properties. Metal-based NPs may come in various forms, such as nanoshells, nanorods, and nanospheres, and they have been studied the most. Massive potential applications for these metal nanomaterial structures include supporting molecular imaging, serving as drug delivery systems, enhancing radiation-based anticancer therapy, supplying photothermal transforming effects for thermal therapy, and being compounds with bactericidal, fungicidal, and antiviral qualities that may be helpful for cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the present paper aims to review the applications of relevant metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in CVDs, creating an up-to-date framework that aids researchers in developing more efficient treatment strategies.