Yuqing Lu,1,* Yan Wang,2,* Yize Li,1,* Yunan Li,1 Yao-Wen Jiang,1,3 Jingjing Li1,3 

1School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, People’s Republic of China; 2The First Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221006, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Yao-Wen Jiang; Jingjing Li, Email jiang@xzhmu.edu.cn; qingchao0124@163.com

Introduction: Photothermal therapy (PTT) is attracting increasing attention in treating atherosclerotic plaques. However, PTT can induce inflammatory responses, in turn stimulating the regeneration of atherosclerosis and hindering subsequent therapy.
Methods: In this paper, a multifunctional nanoparticle (Au NR@SiO2/RSNO/DS, GSNPD) for the synergistic treatment of atherosclerosis through PTT and anti-inflammation effects was developed. The preparation and characterization of GSNPD, their cellular toxicity, photothermal conversion and targeted ablation efficiency, anti-inflammation and ROS scavenging effect, as well as the inhibition of foam cell formation were studied in vitro.
Results: The experimental results showed that the fabricated GSNPD NPs displayed positive effects on anti-atherosclerosis by pro-inflammatory macrophages ablation, NO production and ROS scavenging.
Discussion: GSNPD NPs were designed to effectively and accurately ablate pro-inflammatory macrophages by recognizing and targeting to SR-A overexpressed on the activated macrophages of arterial plaques via PTT, and simultaneous inhibit the PTT-induced inflammation through the laser-activated NO release in situ. This match of therapeutic agents and inhibitors not only achieves good therapeutic effects but also minimizes side effects as much as possible, which may provide an effective way for PTT-based treatment of atherosclerosis.

Keywords: gold nanorods, photothermal therapy, NO, activated macrophages, atherosclerosis