Skip to main content
Article
Nanoparticle approaches for the renin-angiotensin system
Heliyon
  • Sajini D Hettiarachchi, Nova Southeastern University
  • Young M Kwon, Nova Southeastern University
  • Yadollah Omidi, Nova Southeastern University
  • Robert C Speth, Nova Southeastern University; Georgetown University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2023
Keywords
  • COVID-19,
  • Cardiovascular disease,
  • Drug delivery,
  • Hypertension,
  • Nanoparticles,
  • Renin-angiotensin system
Abstract

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal cascade that contributes to several disorders: systemic hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, and neurodegenerative disease. Activation of the RAS can promote inflammation and fibrosis. Drugs that target the RAS can be classified into 3 categories, AT1 angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and renin inhibitors. The therapeutic efficacy of current RAS-inhibiting drugs is limited by poor penetration across the blood-brain barrier, low bioavailability, and to some extent, short half-lives. Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems (DDSs) are possible emerging alternatives to overcome such limitations. Nanoparticles are ideally 1-100 nm in size and are considered efficient DDSs mainly due to their unique characteristics, including water dispersity, prolonged half-life in blood circulation, smaller size, and biocompatibility. Nano-scale DDSs can reduce the drug dosage frequency and acute toxicity of drugs while enhancing therapeutic success. Different types of nanoparticles, such as chitosan, polymeric, and nanofibers, have been examined in RAS-related studies, especially in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19. In this review article, we summarize the physical and chemical characteristics of each nanoparticle to elaborate on their potential use in RAS-related nano-drug delivery research and clinical application.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
ORCID ID

0000-0002-4063-1355; 0000-0002-9935-4866; 0000-0003-0067-2475; 0000-0002-6434-2136

DOI
10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16951
Citation Information
Sajini D Hettiarachchi, Young M Kwon, Yadollah Omidi and Robert C Speth. "Nanoparticle approaches for the renin-angiotensin system" Heliyon Vol. 9 Iss. 6 (2023) p. e16951 ISSN: 2405-8440
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert-speth/130/