PLGA-PEG-folate from PolySciTech used in development of kidney-targeting nanoparticles to treat hypertension

 

High blood-pressure is a common medical problem which is exacerbated by inflammation in the lymph system and kidneys which prevents the screening out and removal of excess sodium and waste products out of the body thus reducing blood pressure. Left untreated, hypertension can lead to increased risk for heart-attack, stroke, or other severe medical problems. Recently, researchers at Texas A&M University used PLGA-PEG-folate (Cat# AI168) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to develop kidney-targeting nanoparticles which reduce inflammation and can lead to improved sodium excretion. This research holds promise to improve therapeutic outcomes for a variety of diseases related to hypertension. Read more: Goodlett, B.L., Kang, C.S., Yoo, E., Navaneethabalakrishnan, S., Balasubbramanian, D., Love, S.E., Sims, B.M., Avilez, D.L., Tate, W., Chavez, D.R. and Baranwal, G., 2022. A Kidney-Targeted Nanoparticle to Augment Renal Lymphatic Density Decreases Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Mice. Pharmaceutics, 14(1), p.84. https://www.mdpi.com/1428566

“Abstract: Chronic interstitial inflammation and renal infiltration of activated immune cells play an integral role in hypertension. Lymphatics regulate inflammation through clearance of immune cells and excess interstitial fluid. Previously, we demonstrated increasing renal lymphangiogenesis prevents hypertension in mice. We hypothesized that targeted nanoparticle delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) to the kidney would induce renal lymphangiogenesis, lowering blood pressure in hypertensive mice. A kidney-targeting nanoparticle was loaded with a VEGF receptor-3-specific form of VEGF-C and injected into mice with angiotensin II-induced hypertension or LNAME-induced hypertension every 3 days. Nanoparticle-treated mice exhibited increased renal lymphatic vessel density and width compared to hypertensive mice injected with VEGF-C alone. Nanoparticle-treated mice exhibited decreased systolic blood pressure, decreased pro-inflammatory renal immune cells, and increased urinary fractional excretion of sodium. Our findings demonstrate that pharmacologically expanding renal lymphatics decreases blood pressure and is associated with favorable alterations in renal immune cells and increased sodium excretion. Keywords: kidney; lymphatics; inflammation; immunity; hypertension”