Abstract
Targeting drugs and nanoparticles to cardiomyocytes has been an elusive challenge. Cardiomyocytes are inherently non-phagocytic and their environment is subjected to contractile forces which tend to expel injected and catheter-delivered drugs. In this issue, a novel-targeting strategy, N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) coating, is shown to enhance cardiomyocyte nanoparticle uptake both in vitro and in vivo. Many effective and proven therapies for myocardial infarction are in clinical use thus raising the bar for the translation of new technologies. Nevertheless, GlcNAc targeting represents a promising approach for improved targeting of drug therapies to cardiomyocytes.
MeSH terms
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Acetylglucosamine / chemistry*
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Animals
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Cardiovascular Agents / administration & dosage*
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Cardiovascular Agents / chemistry
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Cardiovascular Agents / metabolism
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Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
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Disease Models, Animal
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Drug Carriers*
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Drug Compounding
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Imidazoles / administration & dosage*
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Imidazoles / chemistry
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Imidazoles / metabolism
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Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
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Myocardial Infarction / enzymology
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Myocardial Infarction / pathology
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Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
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Myocardium / enzymology*
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Myocardium / pathology
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Nanoparticles*
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Polymers / chemistry*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / metabolism
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Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
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Pyrimidines / chemistry
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Pyrimidines / metabolism
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Regeneration / drug effects
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
Substances
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Cardiovascular Agents
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Drug Carriers
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Imidazoles
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Polymers
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Pyrimidines
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poly(cyclohexane-1,4-diyl acetone dimethylene ketal)
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
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SB 239063
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Acetylglucosamine