2. Academic Validation
  3. KPV and RAPA Self-Assembled into Carrier-Free Nanodrugs for Vascular Calcification Therapy

KPV and RAPA Self-Assembled into Carrier-Free Nanodrugs for Vascular Calcification Therapy

  • Adv Healthc Mater. 2024 Sep 10:e2402320. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202402320.
Li Zhang 1 2,  Dongze Li 2 3,  Yierpani Aierken 1 2,  Jie Zhang 1 2,  Zhenyu Liu 1 2,  Zipeng Lin 1 2,  Longqi Jiang 1 2,  Qingzhu Li 4,  Ya Wu 1 2,  Yong Liu 1 2 5 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  • 2 Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  • 3 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  • 4 Department of General Surgery, Gulin People's Hospital, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  • 5 Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases), Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  • 6 Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
PMID: 39252648 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202402320
Abstract

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death globally, and vascular calcification (VC) is an important independent risk factor for predicting CVD. Currently, there are no established therapeutic strategies for the treatment of VC. Although recognized combination therapies of nanomedicines can provide effective strategies for disease treatment, the clinical application of nanomedicines is limited because of their complex preparation processes, low drug loading rates, and unpredictable safety risks. Thus, developing a simple, efficient, and safe nanodrug to simultaneously regulate inflammation and Autophagy may be a promising strategy for treating VC. Herein, an anti-inflammatory peptide (lysine-proline-valine Peptides, KPV) and the Autophagy activator rapamycin (RAPA) are self-assembled to form new carrier-free spherical nanoparticles (NPs), which shows good stability and biosafety. In vivo and in vitro, KPV-RAPA NPs significantly inhibit VC in mice compared to the other treatment groups. Mechanistically, KPV-RAPA NPs inhibit inflammatory responses and activated Autophagy. Therefore, this study indicates that the new carrier-free KPV-RAPA NPs have great potential as therapeutic agents for VC combination therapy, which can promote the development of nanodrugs for VC.

Keywords

KPV; autophagy; inflammation; rapamycin; self‐assembled carrier‐free nanodrugs; vascular calcification.

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