(123f) Targeting of Antioxidant Polymer Nanoparticles for Inhibition of Metal Nanoparticle Toxicity

Vascular oxidative stress is a key pathological process in a variety of diseases (e.g., ischemia – reperfusion injury and hypoxia). Oxidative stress is characterized by the formation of a wide range of reactive oxygen species (e.g., super oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxy lipids), which can cause severe DNA, protein, and lipid damage leading to cellular dysfunction and death. It is possible to suppress this injury through the addition of free radical scavengers, which can intercept oxidation of cellular components and thereby attenuate this damage. We have previously presented on the ability to formulate antioxidant nanoparticles with a platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (α-PECAM-1) antibody coating that can suppress oxidative stress in a static environment. In this work, we further characterize this active targeting drug delivery carrier. We studied the ability of these nanoparticles to suppress oxidative stress in an injury model (Nano-Co induced stress), along with the effective duration of protection post trauma. We have also characterized the ability of cells to internalize these antioxidant nanoparticles through the use of fluorescent antibody staining. The results obtained demonstrate the capability of this targeted antioxidant drug delivery system to suppress the formation of reactive oxygen species in injuries.