Intravenous route to choroidal neovascularization by macrophage-disguised nanocarriers for mTOR modulation
Recently, the relevant papers were published in the international journal Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B with the title “Intravenous route to choroidal neovascularization by macrophage-disguised nanocarriers for mTOR modulation” and were selected as the front cover.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly population worldwide. Currently, administration of VEGF agents by intravitreal injection (IVT) is the mainstay of therapy for AMD, while some problems remain to solve. Repeatedly long-term IVTs suffer from serious ocular complication. A significant proportion of patients respond poorly to anti-VEGF agents, and long-term usage of anti-VEGF agents has adverse effects such as secondary retinal fibrosis and geographic atrophy. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets are warranted for intervention to the disease. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been proposed as a promising therapeutic target. However the clinical usage of its specific inhibitor, rapamycin, was greatly limited.
Focusing on the above mentioned issues, collaboration was conducted between Chen Zhao’s Lab from Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, and Chen Jiang’s Lab. According to the microenvironment characteristics of the disease, we developed novel biomimetic nanocomplexes where rapamycin-loaded nanoparticles were coated with cell membrane derived from macrophages (termed as MRaNPs). Using MRaNPs, we were able to deliver rapamycin to AMD lesion sites via the intravenous route and mediate the local mTOR signaling pathway. The current research optimizes the route of administration for AMD and offers an alternative therapeutic strategy to the anti-VEGF therapy. It also suggested a therapeutic potential of reversing RPE degeneration, the primary dysfunction of AMD.
Dr. Weiyi Xia from Zhao’s Lab and Dr. Chao Li from Jiang’s Lab are the first authors of the paper. Prof. Jiang and Prof. Zhao are the corresponding authors. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
For more information, please directly refer to https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.022
