Multifunctional liposomes Co-encapsulating epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and miRNA for atherosclerosis lesion elimination
Dandan Li, Danni Liu, Yaoqi Wang, Qi Sun, Ran Sun, Jie Zhang, Xiaoxuan Hong, Ran Huo, Shuang Zhang, Chunying Cui
Abstract
) administration, lip@EGCG/miR-223 was effectively accumulated in atherosclerotic plaques, and the distribution of drugs in the heart and aorta compared to that in the kidney was significantly increased when compared with free drugs (the ratio was 6.27% for the free miR-223-treated group, which increased to 66.10% for the lip@EGCG/miR-223-treated group). By decreasing the inflammation level and lipid accumulation, the arterial vessels in AS were normalized, with less macrophages and micro-angiogenesis, when treated with lip@EGCG/miR-223. Overall, this study demonstrated that lip@EGCG/miR-223 could be developed as a potential system for atherosclerosis treatment by a combined treatment of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-efflux-promoting effects, which provides a novel strategy for the safe and efficient management of atherosclerosis.