Targeted delivery of rosuvastatin enhances treatment of HHcy-induced atherosclerosis using macrophage membrane-coated nanoparticles

Rosuvastatin (RVS) is an excellent drug with anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties in the academic and medical fields. However, this drug faces a series of challenges when used to treat atherosclerosis caused by hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), including high oral dosage, poor targeting, and long-term toxic side effects. In this study, we applied nanotechnology to construct a biomimetic nano-delivery system, macrophage membrane (Møm)-coated RVS-loaded Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles (MPR NPs), for improving the bioavailability and targeting capacity of RVS, specifically to the plaque lesions associated with HHcy-induced atherosclerosis. In vitro assays demonstrated that MPR NPs effectively inhibited the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α/nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathways, reducing pyroptosis and inflammatory response in macrophages. Additionally, MPR NPs reversed the abnormal distribution of ABCA1/ABCG1 caused by HIF-1α, promoting cholesterol efflux and reducing lipid deposition. In vivo studies using apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE^−/−) mice confirmed the strong efficacy of MPR NPs in treating atherosclerosis with favorable biosecurity, the mechanism behind this efficacy is believed to involve the regulation of serum metabolism and the remodeling of gut microbes. These findings suggest that the synthesis of Møm-coated RVS-loaded PB NPs provides a promising nanosystem for the targeted therapy of HHcy-induced atherosclerosis.