Effects of four variations of a surfactant polymer on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits

Polymer-based therapeutics: nanoassemblies and nanoparticles for management of atherosclerosis

Coronary arterial disease, one of the leading causes of adult mortality, is triggered by atherosclerosis. A disease with complex etiology, atherosclerosis results from the progressive long-term combination of atherogenesis, the accumulation of modified lipoproteins within blood vessel walls, along with vascular and systemic inflammatory processes. The management of atherosclerosis is challenged by the localized flare-up of several multipronged signaling interactions between activated monocytes, atherogenic macrophages and inflamed or dysfunctional endothelial cells. A new generation of approaches is now emerging founded on multifocal, targeted therapies that seek to reverse or ameliorate the atheroinflammatory cascade within the vascular intima. This article reviews the various classes and primary examples of bioactive configurations of nanoscale assemblies. Of specific interest are polymer-based or polymer-lipid micellar assemblies designed as multimodal receptor-targeted blockers or drug carriers whose activity can be tuned by variations in polymer hydrophobicity, charge, and architecture. Also reviewed are emerging reports on multifunctional nanoassemblies and nanoparticles for improved circulation and enhanced targeting to atheroinflammatory lesions and atherosclerotic plaques.

Control of the interaction of cholesterol ester-rich lipoproteins with arterial receptors

Incorporation of 125I-labeled cholesterol ester rich lipoproteins from cholesterol fed rabbits into normal rabbit aorta in vitro was inhibited by heparin, lecithin, and collagenase and by succinylation of the lipoprotein. Aortic uptake of lipoprotein was increased by neuraminidase, proteases, lipase, and beta-glucuronidase. These results suggest that it may be possible to control atherogenesis by controlling the interaction of atherogenic lipoproteins with their arterial receptor.

Cholesteryl ester metabolism in tissue culture cells: II. Source of accumulated esterified cholesterol in Fu5AH rat hepatoma cells

Previous investigations had demonstrated that Fu5AH rat hepatoma cells accumulated large quantities of esterified cholesterol when grown in hyperlipemic rabbit serum. The present investigation has determined the sources of the cellular esterified cholesterol when the cells were grown in hyperlipemic serum. Cellular esterification of endogenous and exogenous free cholesterol contributed 10% and 30%, respectively. The remaining 60% of the accumulated cellular esterfied cholesterol was derived from exogenous (serum) cholesteryl esters. Evidence for the hydrolysis of a portion of the incorporated esterified cholesterol is presented. A stimulation of free cholesterol incorporation and cellular esterification is elicited by hyperlipemic serum and serum lipoproteins when compared to normolipemic serum present at equivalent exogenous cholesterol concentrations. The effect of hyperlipemic serum is reduced by Tween-80 and Triton WR-1339. Comparative data on esterified cholesterol accumulation, free cholesterol incorporation, and cellular cholesterol esterification in Fu5-5 rat hepatoma cells, L-cells, and rabbit aortic medial cells are presented.