In situ protein corona-camouflaged supramolecular assemblies remodel thrombotic microenvironment for improved arterial homeostasis

  • Sci Adv. 2025 May 2;11(18):eadu6676. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adu6676.
Dan Chen  1 Yifan Chen  2 Jianwen Liu  1 Xinyue Liu  1 Peiwen Liu  3 Jiabing Zhan  1 Zhiting Chen  4 Yong Gan  5  6 Mingdong Huang  3 Zhaoyang Chen  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Cardiology, Heart Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China.
  • 2. Department of Cardiology, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361004, China.
  • 3. College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China.
  • 4. Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China.
  • 5. Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
  • 6. School of Pharmacy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Abstract

Arterial thrombosis is commonly accompanied by poor recanalization and high recurrence, typically caused by a fibrinolysis-resistant microenvironment. We identify elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and, notably, its strong correlation with inflammation in arterial thrombosis. To address this, small molecular inhibitors of PAI-1 and inflammation are used as bioregulators to restore vascular homeostasis. We design a carrier-free supramolecular system based on the bioregulators-tuned self-assembly of a near-infrared thrombus probe, which preferentially forms protein corona in situ to enhance plasma stability. Under acidic conditions and increased shear stress, the supramolecular assemblies disintegrate, enabling site-specific cargo release. In vivo, the probe accumulates 22.8-fold more in the thrombotic than contralateral artery. Functionally, this nanomedicine improves outcomes in mice with carotid artery thrombosis and chronic cerebral ischemia. Mechanistically, it down-regulates NF-κB signaling, inhibits NETosis and glycolysis, and up-regulates cGMP-mediated signaling, thereby alleviating inflammation and promoting fibrinolysis. This study offers an innovative codelivery strategy using supramolecular assemblies to advance therapies for arterial thrombosis.

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