Development of Targeted Nonionic Surfactant Vesicles for Treatment of Vascular Injury

Inflammatory processes play a crucial role in cardiovascular injury and disease. Inflamed endothelial cells express adhesion molecules which are potential therapeutic delivery targets for reducing or disrupting inflammation. We have developed non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) that are specifically targeted to inflamed vascular cells. Niosomes are self assembly vesicles that can encapsulate therapeutic agents and can be delivered to an injured subject via an injection, through skin or in a gel or patch. In this paper, we will describe the synthesis of the niosomes, results of studies to determine binding to injured/inflamed endothelial cells, efforts to encapsulate anti-inflammatory agents, and initial animal data.