Bioactive Materials (Feb 2023)

Targeted alleviation of ischemic stroke reperfusion via atorvastatin-ferritin Gd-layered double hydroxide

  • Li Wang,
  • Baorui Zhang,
  • Xueting Yang,
  • Shuaitian Guo,
  • Geoffrey I.N. Waterhouse,
  • Guangrong Song,
  • Shanyue Guan,
  • Aihua Liu,
  • Liang Cheng,
  • Shuyun Zhou

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20
pp. 126 – 136

Abstract

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In acute ischemic stroke therapy, potent neuroprotective agents are needed that prevent neural injuries caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during ischemic reperfusion. Herein, a novel 2D neuroprotective agent (AFGd-LDH) is reported, comprising Gd-containing layered double hydroxide nanosheets (Gd-LDH, as a drug nanocarrier/MRI contrast agent), atorvastatin (ATO, as a neuroprotective drug) and the ferritin heavy subunit (FTH, as a blood brain barrier transport agent). Experiments revealed AFGd-LDH to possess outstanding antioxidant activity, neuroprotective properties, blood‒brain barrier transit properties, and biocompatibility. In vitro studies demonstrated the ROS scavenging efficiency of AFGd‒LDH to be ∼90%, surpassing CeO2 (50%, a ROS scavenger) and edaravone (52%, a clinical neuroprotective drug). Ischemia‒reperfusion model studies in mice showed AFGd‒LDH could dramatically decrease apoptosis induced by reperfusion, reducing the infarct area by 67% and lowering the neurological deficit score from 3.2 to 0.9. AFGd-LDH also offered outstanding MRI performance, thus enabling simultaneous imaging and ischemia reperfusion therapy.

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