A novel curcumin-loaded nanoparticle restricts atherosclerosis development and promotes plaques stability in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meng, Ning; Gong, Yan; Zhang, Jiefeng; Mu, Xin; Song, Zhimei; Feng, Runliang; Zhang, Hua
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomaterials applications. Volume 33:Number 7(2019)
• Page Start: 946
• Page End: 954
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Curcumin -- nanoparticle -- arteriosclerosis -- plaques stability; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1177/0885328218815328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3282

Abstract

Although curcumin possesses anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, its application is limited because of its low aqueous solubility and poor oral bioavailability. Recently, our group synthesized a novel linear-dendrimer methoxy-poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymer nanoparticle loading curcumin (Cur-NPs) which could improve solubility and release property of curcumin. In the present study, we further evaluated its anti-atherosclerotic effect in apolipoprotein E −/− mice. Our results demonstrated that the Cur-NPs significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion areas and were more effective in stabilizing vulnerable plaques compared with free curcumin. The anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of Cur-NPs include decreasing the number of introplaque microvessels, inhibiting the matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 activity, reducing the inflammatory response and regulating lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism more effectively compared with free curcumin. Furthermore, Cur-NPs could increase the amount of curcumin in the thoracic aorta and no significant toxicity was observed in the blood biochemical parameters in Cur-NPs-treated groups. Overall, our findings suggested that Cur-NPs could be a stabilized aqueous formulation for application with improved curcumin activity, which could be a potential treatment strategy for arteriosclerosis in the future.