Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common types of CVDs include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, angina, heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke. CVDs are a leading cause of death worldwide, and their incidence is increasing due to the growing aging population and the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Dendrimers are a type of nanoscale, highly branched and monodisperse polymers that have been shown to have potential for use in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

The treatment of CVDs involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, such as exercise, a healthy diet, and smoking cessation, and pharmacological interventions. Medications used to treat CVDs include antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, anticoagulants, such as warfarin, anti-hypertensive drugs, such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, and lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins. In severe cases, interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery, may be required. In recent years, there have been advances in the treatment of CVDs, including the development of new drugs and procedures, as well as the use of advanced imaging and diagnostic technologies, which have improved the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment.

Dendrimers Used to Develop New Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease

Dendrimers are nanoscale, highly branched and monodisperse polymers that have attracted significant interest in the field of drug delivery, including for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The unique structure of dendrimers, which includes a highly defined core, numerous surface functional groups and a well-defined size, makes them ideal for the design of targeted and controlled drug delivery systems. Additionally, dendrimers have been shown to effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which makes them potential candidates for the treatment of cardiovascular disease-related neurological disorders. There are several ways that dendrimers can be used to target and treat cardiovascular diseases.

Different methods for delivering anti-CVDs bioactive through dendrimer. (Gothwal A, et al., 2015)

• For example, they can be functionalized with drugs, peptides, or RNA to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the site of disease.
• They can also be used as contrast agents for imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of the progression of cardiovascular diseases.
• One specific example of dendrimers being used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease is the use of PEGylated arginine dendrimers as carriers for the delivery of drugs that prevent blood clots, such as anti-coagulants. In preclinical studies, these dendrimers have shown improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to traditional drug delivery methods.
• Additionally, dendrimers have also been explored as a method for delivering RNA interference (RNAi) therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. RNAi therapies target and silence specific disease-causing genes, offering a new approach to the treatment of these conditions.

Schematic presentation of the different bioactives delivery in CVDs. (Gothwal A, et al., 2015)

How We Can Help

CD BioSciences leverages its expertise in dendrimers to provide high-quality, hassle-free, cost-effective customized services and innovative products to customers worldwide. Our dedicated scientists are committed to helping you realize a wide range of applications for dendrimers in the biomedical field. If you are interested in our services or have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Gothwal A.; et al. Dendrimers as an Effective Nanocarrier in Cardiovascular Disease. Curr Pharm Des. 2015, 21: 4519-26.