ROS-responsive nanoparticles with Selenomethionine for ferroptosis modulation in abdominal aortic aneurysm

Oxidative stress, particularly ROS accumulation, plays a key role in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Surgical treatments and current drugs for AAA have limitations, including lack of specificity and significant side effects. This study constructed ROS-responsive nanoparticles using phenylthio-modified dendritic polylysine (PDP) loaded with selenomethionine (PDPs-Se) for AAA treatment, and elucidated its mechanism of action. In-vitro studies revealed that PDPs-Se enhanced the clearance of ROS by increasing the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, PDPs-Se upregulated the expression levels of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 to suppress ferroptosis and modulate the differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from a synthetic to a contractile phenotype. In-vivo experiments revealed that PDPs-Se attenuated the progression of AAA by inhibiting oxidative stress responses and improving the aortic wall thickness, indicating its potential as an approach for AAA therapy.