Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. RNA-based therapeutics, including siRNA and mRNA, offer promising approaches for cardiac diseases, yet their clinical application is limited by low heart specificity and subo...

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Main Authors: Xinming Wang, Yiming Zhong, Bei Qian, Shixing Huang, Qiang Long, Haonan Zhang, Qiang Zhao, Xiaofeng Ye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425007756
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author Xinming Wang
Yiming Zhong
Bei Qian
Shixing Huang
Qiang Long
Haonan Zhang
Qiang Zhao
Xiaofeng Ye
author_facet Xinming Wang
Yiming Zhong
Bei Qian
Shixing Huang
Qiang Long
Haonan Zhang
Qiang Zhao
Xiaofeng Ye
author_sort Xinming Wang
collection DOAJ
description Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. RNA-based therapeutics, including siRNA and mRNA, offer promising approaches for cardiac diseases, yet their clinical application is limited by low heart specificity and suboptimal delivery methods. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely used for RNA delivery but often accumulate in non-cardiac tissues, reducing their effectiveness. To address this, an extracellular matrix (ECM)-LNP composite is developed for targeted RNA delivery to the myocardium. The LNPs are conjugated to the ECM scaffold to enhance RNA retention. In vivo experiments demonstrate effective mRNA delivery and expression within the heart, with preferential targeting towards immune cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a key regulator of cell proliferation and inflammation, is found to affect macrophage polarization in this study. The therapeutic potential of EGFR siRNA delivered via ECM-LNP composite is further explored in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI). Results indicate that ECM-siEGFR@LNP reduces cardiac fibrosis and promotes M2 macrophage polarization. This effect is associated with down-regulation of the EGFR-AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study presents an injectable platform for heart-specific RNA delivery and sheds light on the role of EGFR signaling in the cardiac repair process.
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spelling doaj-art-df92f77e1bb442cca9671320fa7c58cb2025-08-20T05:07:29ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642025-10-013410220510.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102205Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarctionXinming Wang0Yiming Zhong1Bei Qian2Shixing Huang3Qiang Long4Haonan Zhang5Qiang Zhao6Xiaofeng Ye7Corresponding author.; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaCorresponding author.; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaCorresponding author.; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaCardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. RNA-based therapeutics, including siRNA and mRNA, offer promising approaches for cardiac diseases, yet their clinical application is limited by low heart specificity and suboptimal delivery methods. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely used for RNA delivery but often accumulate in non-cardiac tissues, reducing their effectiveness. To address this, an extracellular matrix (ECM)-LNP composite is developed for targeted RNA delivery to the myocardium. The LNPs are conjugated to the ECM scaffold to enhance RNA retention. In vivo experiments demonstrate effective mRNA delivery and expression within the heart, with preferential targeting towards immune cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a key regulator of cell proliferation and inflammation, is found to affect macrophage polarization in this study. The therapeutic potential of EGFR siRNA delivered via ECM-LNP composite is further explored in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI). Results indicate that ECM-siEGFR@LNP reduces cardiac fibrosis and promotes M2 macrophage polarization. This effect is associated with down-regulation of the EGFR-AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study presents an injectable platform for heart-specific RNA delivery and sheds light on the role of EGFR signaling in the cardiac repair process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425007756Localized deliverysiRNA therapyExtracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle compositeMyocardial infarctionEpidermal growth factor receptor
spellingShingle Xinming Wang
Yiming Zhong
Bei Qian
Shixing Huang
Qiang Long
Haonan Zhang
Qiang Zhao
Xiaofeng Ye
Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
Materials Today Bio
Localized delivery
siRNA therapy
Extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite
Myocardial infarction
Epidermal growth factor receptor
title Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
title_full Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
title_fullStr Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
title_full_unstemmed Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
title_short Self-assembled extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite for site-specific siRNA delivery to improve cardiac repair post-myocardial infarction
title_sort self assembled extracellular matrix lipid nanoparticle composite for site specific sirna delivery to improve cardiac repair post myocardial infarction
topic Localized delivery
siRNA therapy
Extracellular matrix-lipid nanoparticle composite
Myocardial infarction
Epidermal growth factor receptor
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006425007756
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