Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Transformable and Triple-Targeting Butylphthalide Nanotherapy for Precision Treatment of Ischemic Stroke by Normalizing the Pathological Microenvironment. 2023

Qinghua Yang, and Wendan Pu, and Kaiyao Hu, and Yi Hu, and Zhiqiang Feng, and Jiajun Cai, and Chenwen Li, and Lanlan Li, and Zhenhua Zhou, and Jianxiang Zhang
Department of Neurology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China.

High potency and safe therapies are still required for ischemic stroke, which is a leading cause of global death and disability. Herein, a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive, transformable, and triple-targeting dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) nanotherapy was developed for ischemic stroke. To this end, a ROS-responsive nanovehicle (OCN) was first constructed using a cyclodextrin-derived material, which showed considerably enhanced cellular uptake in brain endothelial cells due to notably reduced particle size, morphological transformation, and surface chemistry switching upon triggering via pathological signals. Compared to a nonresponsive nanovehicle, this ROS-responsive and transformable nanoplatform OCN exhibited a significantly higher brain accumulation in a mouse model of ischemic stroke, thereby affording notably potentiated therapeutic effects for the nanotherapy derived from NBP-containing OCN. For OCN decorated with a stroke-homing peptide (SHp), we found significantly increased transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis, in addition to the previously recognized targeting capability to activated neurons. Consistently, the engineered transformable and triple-targeting nanoplatform, i.e., SHp-decorated OCN (SON), displayed a more efficient distribution in the injured brain in mice with ischemic stroke, showing considerable localization in endothelial cells and neurons. Furthermore, the finally formulated ROS-responsive transformable and triple-targeting nanotherapy (NBP-loaded SON) demonstrated highly potent neuroprotective activity in mice, which outperformed the SHp-deficient nanotherapy at a 5-fold higher dose. Mechanistically, our bioresponsive, transformable, and triple-targeting nanotherapy attenuated the ischemia/reperfusion-induced endothelial permeability and improved dendritic remodeling and synaptic plasticity of neurons in the injured brain tissue, thereby promoting much better functional recovery, which were achieved by efficiently enhancing NBP delivery to the ischemic brain tissue, targeting injured endothelial cells and activated neurons/microglial cells, and normalizing the pathological microenvironment. Moreover, preliminary studies indicated that the ROS-responsive NBP nanotherapy displayed a good safety profile. Consequently, the developed triple-targeting NBP nanotherapy with desirable targeting efficiency, spatiotemporally controlled drug release performance, and high translational potential holds great promise for precision therapy of ischemic stroke and other brain diseases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002545 Brain Ischemia Localized reduction of blood flow to brain tissue due to arterial obstruction or systemic hypoperfusion. This frequently occurs in conjunction with brain hypoxia (HYPOXIA, BRAIN). Prolonged ischemia is associated with BRAIN INFARCTION. Cerebral Ischemia,Ischemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Ischemic,Ischemia, Cerebral,Brain Ischemias,Cerebral Ischemias,Ischemia, Brain,Ischemias, Cerebral,Ischemic Encephalopathies
D000083242 Ischemic Stroke Stroke due to BRAIN ISCHEMIA resulting in interruption or reduction of blood flow to a part of the brain. When obstruction is due to a BLOOD CLOT formed within in a cerebral blood vessel it is a thrombotic stroke. When obstruction is formed elsewhere and moved to block a cerebral blood vessel (see CEREBRAL EMBOLISM) it is referred to as embolic stroke. Wake-up stroke refers to ischemic stroke occurring during sleep while cryptogenic stroke refers to ischemic stroke of unknown origin. Acute Ischemic Stroke,Cryptogenic Embolism Stroke,Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke,Cryptogenic Stroke,Ischaemic Stroke,Wake-up Stroke,Acute Ischemic Strokes,Cryptogenic Embolism Strokes,Cryptogenic Ischemic Strokes,Cryptogenic Strokes,Embolism Stroke, Cryptogenic,Ischaemic Strokes,Ischemic Stroke, Acute,Ischemic Stroke, Cryptogenic,Ischemic Strokes,Stroke, Acute Ischemic,Stroke, Cryptogenic,Stroke, Cryptogenic Embolism,Stroke, Cryptogenic Ischemic,Stroke, Ischaemic,Stroke, Ischemic,Stroke, Wake-up,Wake up Stroke,Wake-up Strokes
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017382 Reactive Oxygen Species Molecules or ions formed by the incomplete one-electron reduction of oxygen. These reactive oxygen intermediates include SINGLET OXYGEN; SUPEROXIDES; PEROXIDES; HYDROXYL RADICAL; and HYPOCHLOROUS ACID. They contribute to the microbicidal activity of PHAGOCYTES, regulation of SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION and GENE EXPRESSION, and the oxidative damage to NUCLEIC ACIDS; PROTEINS; and LIPIDS. Active Oxygen Species,Oxygen Radical,Oxygen Radicals,Pro-Oxidant,Reactive Oxygen Intermediates,Active Oxygen,Oxygen Species, Reactive,Pro-Oxidants,Oxygen, Active,Pro Oxidant,Pro Oxidants,Radical, Oxygen
D042783 Endothelial Cells Highly specialized EPITHELIAL CELLS that line the HEART; BLOOD VESSELS; and lymph vessels, forming the ENDOTHELIUM. They are polygonal in shape and joined together by TIGHT JUNCTIONS. The tight junctions allow for variable permeability to specific macromolecules that are transported across the endothelial layer. Capillary Endothelial Cells,Lymphatic Endothelial Cells,Vascular Endothelial Cells,Capillary Endothelial Cell,Cell, Capillary Endothelial,Cell, Endothelial,Cell, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cell, Vascular Endothelial,Cells, Capillary Endothelial,Cells, Endothelial,Cells, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cells, Vascular Endothelial,Endothelial Cell,Endothelial Cell, Capillary,Endothelial Cell, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cell, Vascular,Endothelial Cells, Capillary,Endothelial Cells, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cells, Vascular,Lymphatic Endothelial Cell,Vascular Endothelial Cell
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D018696 Neuroprotective Agents Drugs intended to prevent damage to the brain or spinal cord from ischemia, stroke, convulsions, or trauma. Some must be administered before the event, but others may be effective for some time after. They act by a variety of mechanisms, but often directly or indirectly minimize the damage produced by endogenous excitatory amino acids. Neuroprotectant,Neuroprotective Agent,Neuroprotective Drug,Neuroprotectants,Neuroprotective Drugs,Neuroprotective Effect,Neuroprotective Effects,Agent, Neuroprotective,Agents, Neuroprotective,Drug, Neuroprotective,Drugs, Neuroprotective,Effect, Neuroprotective,Effects, Neuroprotective
D020521 Stroke A group of pathological conditions characterized by sudden, non-convulsive loss of neurological function due to BRAIN ISCHEMIA or INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGES. Stroke is classified by the type of tissue NECROSIS, such as the anatomic location, vasculature involved, etiology, age of the affected individual, and hemorrhagic vs. non-hemorrhagic nature. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp777-810) Apoplexy,Cerebral Stroke,Cerebrovascular Accident,Cerebrovascular Apoplexy,Vascular Accident, Brain,CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident),Cerebrovascular Accident, Acute,Cerebrovascular Stroke,Stroke, Acute,Acute Cerebrovascular Accident,Acute Cerebrovascular Accidents,Acute Stroke,Acute Strokes,Apoplexy, Cerebrovascular,Brain Vascular Accident,Brain Vascular Accidents,CVAs (Cerebrovascular Accident),Cerebral Strokes,Cerebrovascular Accidents,Cerebrovascular Accidents, Acute,Cerebrovascular Strokes,Stroke, Cerebral,Stroke, Cerebrovascular,Strokes,Strokes, Acute,Strokes, Cerebral,Strokes, Cerebrovascular,Vascular Accidents, Brain

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