A foam cell-targeted lipophagy restoration strategy stabilizes vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques - PubMed
a day ago
- #Atherosclerosis
- #Nanomedicine
- #Lipophagy
- Development of OPN-HMCN@MLT, a targeted nanoplatform combining melatonin with an osteopontin-binding peptide and hyaluronic acid-modified mesoporous carbon for atherosclerosis treatment.
- The system enables cascade-responsive drug release triggered by OPN recognition, HA degradation, and acidic pH, targeting vulnerable plaques precisely.
- OPN-HMCN@MLT facilitates selective retention in vulnerable lesions, enhancing plaque-associated photoacoustic (PA) signals for imaging.
- In vivo studies show OPN-HMCN@MLT suppresses plaque progression, promotes lesion regression, reduces foam cell accumulation, and improves lipid metabolism without systemic toxicity.
- This strategy combines targeted lipophagy restoration with molecular imaging, offering precision intervention and monitoring for advanced atherosclerosis.