Nanocatalytic Antioxidation Enables Aortic Endothelial Repair and Aortic Aneurysm Treatment.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of lethal aortic aneurysm (AA) is closely associated with oxidative stress, which damages endothelial cells (ECs) and disrupts the endothelial barrier, subsequently affecting vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This work presents a nanocatalytic antioxidation strategy for AA treatment using a two-dimensional (2D) ZIF-67 nanosheet (NS) as an efficient antioxidase mimic. The material features a planar two-dimensional morphology and an antioxidative coordination environment, presenting an excellent H₂O₂-scavenging performance (<i>K</i>_m = 19.72 mM). Cell experiments reveal that ZIF-67 NS is capable of protecting ECs against oxidation, inhibiting the occurrence of the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and maintaining the integrity of the vascular endothelial barrier. The antioxidative effect of the material also protects the VSMCs. <i>In vivo</i> experiments further demonstrate the desirable efficacy of the nanocatalyst in suppressing the formation of AA. This nanocatalytic antioxidation strategy provides a promising therapeutic approach for AA treatment and other cardiovascular diseases.