Near-infrared light-driven multifunctional metal ion (Cu2+)-loaded polydopamine nanomotors for therapeutic angiogenesis in critical limb ischemia
Gui L, Juju Huang, Yi Xing, Yongjun Li, Junjie Zou, Yingwei Zhu, Xiao Liang, Xiwei Zhang, Qiang Xu, Xin Du
Abstract
Most of the current nanomedicine-based treatments for critical limb ischemia (CLI) only aim at promoting angiogenesis, ignoring the negative influence on the therapeutic effects caused by the complex pathological micro-environment of ischemic tissue. Herein, near-infrared (NIR) light-driven metal ion (Cu2+)-loaded polydopamine (PDA) nanomotors (JMPN@Cu2+) is designed and prepared. Due to the good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of PDA, JMPN@Cu2+ exhibits excellent biocompatibility and significantly improves the ischemic micro-environment. Additionally, based on superior photothermal conversion effect and jellyfish-like structure, the nanomotors are quickly propelled under NIR laser with low energy intensity to acquire the ability of movement and facilitate intracellular uptake of JMPN@Cu2+ by endothelial cells, resulting in the enhanced pro-angiogenic effect of Cu2+. Moreover, in vivo experimental findings show that JMPN@Cu2+ combined with NIR irradiation can successfully accelerate blood flow recovery and improve muscle repair. Taking these results together, this kind of nanomotor can promote angiogenesis along with ischemic micro-environment amelioration, holding great potential applications for the treatment of limb ischemia.