Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: The uncontrolled accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) within the walls of blood vessels, called atherosclerosis, lies at the core of cardiovascular diseases and causes a staggering toll on adult mortality and rising health care costs. Methodology & Innovation: Biomaterials as anti-atherosclerotic therapeutics for inhibiting cholesterol accumulation and the related inflammation. A generation of unimers whose surface features such as surface anionic density; amphiphilicity; and nanoscale architecture can be systematically varied was designed. Competitive binding to scavenger receptors was used as a key mechanism of action. Serum-stable nanoparticles were fabricated from the unimers using flash nanoprecipitation and the NLB nanoparticles were administered in vivo to treat the progression of atherosclerosis. Findings & Conclusions: We report that assemblies of such nanolipoblockers (NLBs) can systematically block the scavenger receptor molecules that traffic highly oxidized LDL into macrophages and inhibit the resulting atherogenic phenotype. In parallel, a multimodal strategy of depleting cellular cholesterol was examined by using the NLBs as drug delivery carriers in vivo. The NLBs lowered intimal levels of accumulated cholesterol and inhibited macrophage retention relative to non-treated controls. A number of more recent project directions, including studies of molecular mechanisms of action, design of more stable nanoparticle formulations of the NLBs, and emergent pathways for translational medicine will also be highlighted in this talk.

Biography

Email: moghe@rutgers.edu