Phospholipid nanoparticles: Therapeutic potentials against atherosclerosis via reducing cholesterol crystals and inhibiting inflammation

Background: Atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Cholesterol crystals (CCs) induce inflammation in atherosclerosis and are associated with unstable plaques and poor prognosis, but no drug can remove CCs in the clinic currently. Methods: We generated a phospholipid-based and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-like nanoparticle, miNano, and determined CC-dissolving capacity, cholesterol efflux property, and anti-inflammation effects of miNano in vitro. Both normal C57BL/6J and Apoe-deficient mice were used to explore the accumulation of miNano in atherosclerotic plaques. The efficacy and safety of miNano administration to treat atherosclerosis were evaluated in the Ldlr-deficient atherosclerosis model. The CC-dissolving capacity of miNano was also detected using human atherosclerotic plaques ex vivo. Findings: We found that miNano bound to and dissolved CCs efficiently in vitro, and miNano accumulated in atherosclerotic plaques, co-localized with CCs and macrophages in vivo. Administration of miNano inhibited atherosclerosis and improved plaque stability by reducing CCs and macrophages in Ldlr-deficient mice with favorable safety profiles. In macrophages, miNano prevented foam cell formation by enhancing cholesterol efflux and suppressed inflammatory responses via inhibiting TLR4-NF-kappa B pathway. Finally, in an ex vivo experiment, miNano effectively dissolved CCs in human aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Interpretation: Together, our work finds that phospholipid-based and HDL-like nanoparticle, miNano, has the potential to treat atherosclerosis by targeting CCs and stabilizing plaques. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

miNano is a potential nanoparticle for treating atherosclerosis by dissolving cholesterol crystals and stabilizing plaques to improve the disease.