Fibronectin-Functionalized Tea Polyphenol Nanoparticles Loaded with Ferrostatin-1 for Synergistic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Therapy

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening cardiovascular condition with complex pathophysiology, for which effective pharmacological treatments are currently lacking. Recently, ferroptosis has been identified as a key mechanism of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) death, emerging as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating aortic aneurysms. Here, a drug-delivery nanoparticle system combining tea polyphenol-based nanoparticles and a ferroptosis inhibitor is developed. This system, formed through the oxidative polymerization and self-assembly of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), efficiently encapsulates Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) during self-assembly and is subsequently functionalized with fibronectin (FN) for targeted treatment of angiotensin II-induced AAA. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that TPN-Fer-1@FN effectively inhibits ferroptosis, suppresses the inflammatory response, and reduces matrix degradation, while preserving the normal contractile function of VSMCs and modulating the NOTCH3 signaling pathway. Moreover, the TPN-Fer-1@FN nanosystem exhibited low toxicity and good biocompatibility. These findings suggest that TPN-Fer-1@FN represents a promising therapeutic strategy for inhibiting ferroptosis and modulating the pathological processes underlying AAA.