Platelet-Mimicking Therapeutic System for Noninvasive Mitigation of the Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Atherosclerotic plaque is the primary cause of cardiovascular disorders and remains a therapeutic hurdle for the early intervention of atherosclerosis. Traditional clinical strategies are often limited by surgery-related complications or unsatisfactory effects of long-term drug administration. Inspired by the plaque-binding ability of platelets, a biomimic photodynamic therapeutic system is designed to mitigate the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. This system is composed of photosensitizer-loaded upconversion nanoparticle cores entrapped in the platelet membrane. The platelet membrane coating facilitates specific targeting of the therapeutic system to macrophage-derived foam cells, the hallmark, and main component of early stage atherosclerotic plaques, which is firmly confirmed by in vivo fluorescent and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) radionuclide imaging. Importantly, in vivo phototherapy guided by SPECT/CT imaging alleviates plaque progression. Further immunofluorescence analysis reveals foam cell apoptosis and ameliorated inflammation. This biomimic system, which combines plaque-binding with radionuclide imaging guidance, is a novel, noninvasive, and potent strategy to mitigate the progression of atherosclerotic plaque.

Automated summary

Atherosclerotic plaque is the primary cause of cardiovascular disorders, and traditional clinical strategies are often limited. Researchers have designed a biomimic photodynamic therapeutic system that can target foam cells in early atherosclerotic plaques using platelet membrane-coated upconversion nanoparticle cores loaded with photosensitizer, which shows promising results in alleviating plaque progression.