A TEMPOL and rapamycin loaded nanofiber-covered stent favors endothelialization and mitigates neointimal hyperplasia and local inflammation
Rui Wang, Jian Lu, Jiasheng Yin, Han Chen, Hongmei Liu, Fei Xu, Tongtong Zang, Rende Xu, Chenguang Li, Yizhe Wu, Qilin Wu, Xiang Fei, Meifang Zhu, Li Shen, Junbo Ge
Abstract
An increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a major role in endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation during in-stent thrombosis and restenosis after coronary artery stenting. Herein, we report an electrospun core-shell nanofiber coloaded with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL) and rapamycin (RAPA) that correspondingly serves as an ROS scavenger and VSMC inhibitor. This system has the potential to improve the biocompatibility of current drug-eluting stent (DES) coatings with the long-term and continuous release of TEMPOL and rapamycin. Moreover, the RAPA/TEMPOL-loaded membrane selectively inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs while sparing endothelial cells (ECs). This membrane demonstrated superior ROS-scavenging, anti-inflammatory and antithrombogenic effects in ECs. In addition, the membrane could maintain the contractile phenotype and mitigate platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation of VSMCs. In vivo results further revealed that the RAPA/TEMPOL-loaded covered stents promoted rapid restoration of vascular endothelium compared with DES and persistently impeded inflammation and neointimal hyperplasia in porcine models.