Targeted delivery of a cationic dendrimer with a plaque-homing peptide for the treatment of atherosclerosis

In the following manuscript, Zahr and Li et al. develop polycation-based polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers conjugated with an atherosclerotic plaque-homing peptide Lyp1 for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The proposed compound, P-G3 Lyp1, was shown to efficiently deposit in mouse atherosclerotic plaques when injected intravenously, mediated by its uptake in macrophages and foam cells. Prolonged treatment of P-G3 Lyp1 attenuated plaque necrosis and mitigated inflammation, indicating a reduction in atherosclerosis burden. These findings introduce the use of cationic nanomedicines as promising anti-atherosclerotic agents when delivered with plaque homing peptides.