Black TiO₂ nanoprobe-mediated mild phototherapy reduces intracellular lipid levels in atherosclerotic foam cells via cholesterol regulation pathways instead of apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: Given that apoptosis increases the risk of plaque rupture, strategies that reduce intracellular lipid levels without killing foam cells are warranted for safe and effective treatment of atherosclerosis. In this study, a mild phototherapy strategy is carried out to achieve the hypothesis. Foam cell-targeted nanoprobes that allow photothermal therapy (PTT) and/or photodynamic therapy (PDT) were prepared by loading hyaluronan and porphine onto black TiO₂ nanoparticles. The results showed that when temperatures below 45 °C, PTT alone and PTT + PDT significantly reduced the intracellular lipid burden without inducing evidently apoptosis or necrosis. In contrast, the use of PDT alone resulted in only a slight reduction in lipid levels and induced massive apoptosis or necrosis. The pro

SUBMITTER: Dai T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8958315 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature