Hydrogel encapsulating gold nanoparticles for targeted delivery of nitroglycerin to reduce post-cardiac dysfunction inflammation by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The discovery of nitric oxide's role in biological processes like platelet function, vasodilation, cell permeability, and inflammation has advanced our understanding of organic nitrate therapy's hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic effects. Short-term use of organic nitrates prevents left ventricular enlargement and infarct expansion. However, information on their long-term impact on LV remodeling in post-acute cardiac dysfunction patients is limited. In this study, we utilized an innovative active hydrogel with gelatin (Gel)/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polylactic acid (PLA) encapsulating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based drug delivery system for the sustained release of nitroglycerin (NTG). Gel/PEG/PLA/NTG/AuNPs hydrogel-based system is a non-transplant surgical method that can adhere to the surface of the heart and deliver the drug directly to the epicardium. Cardiac dysfunction was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Echocardiograms were used to study the pre- and post-operative hemodynamics. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome stain (MTS) staining revealed that the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats' group had irregularly shaped fibers and a lack of transverse striations, whereas Gel/PEG/PLA/NTG/AuNPs hydrogel group showed significant improvement. Rats in the Gel/PEG/PLA hydrogel group demonstrated marked vasodilation, compared to the AMI group. Mechanistically, we determined that hydrogel disrupts the initiation of post-cardiac dysfunction via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional activation. Hence, the Gel/PEG/PLA/NTG/AuNPs hydrogel group effectively protected against ischemic injury and inflammation in AMI, demonstrating a novel method for treating acute cardiac dysfunction.