Targeted Repair of Vascular Injury by Adipose‐Derived Stem Cells Modified with P‐Selectin Binding Peptide

Percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease treatment often results in pathological vascular injury, characterized by P‐selectin overexpression. Adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) therapeutic efficacy remains elusive due to poor ADSCs targeting and retention in injured vessels. Here, conjugated P‐selectin binding peptide (PBP) to polyethylene glycol‐conjugated phospholipid derivative (DMPE‐PEG) linkers (DMPE‐PEG‐PBP; DPP) are used to facilitate the modification of PBP onto ADSCs cell surfaces via hydrophobic interactions between DMPE‐PEG and the phospholipid bilayer. DPP modification neither has influence on ADSCs proliferation nor apoptosis/paracrine factor gene expression. A total of 5 × 10−6 m DPP‐modified ADSCs (DPP‐ADSCs) strongly binds to P‐selectin‐displaying activated platelets and endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro and to wire‐injured rat femoral arteries when administered by intra‐arterial injection. Targeted binding of ADSCs shields injury sites from platelet and leukocyte adhesion, thereby decreasing inflammation at injury sites. Furthermore, targeted binding of ADSCs recovers injured ECs functionality and reduces platelet‐initiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) chemotactic migration. Targeted binding of DPP‐human ADSCs to balloon‐injured human femoral arteries is also demonstrated in ex vivo experiments. Overall, DPP‐ADSCs promote vascular repair, inhibit neointimal hyperplasia, increase endothelium functionality, and maintain normal VSMCs alignment, supporting preclinical noninvasive utilization of DPP‐ADSCs for vascular injury. The cell modification approach, utilizing hydrophobic interaction between amphiphilic molecules (polyethylene glycol‐conjugated phospholipid‐derivative, DMPE‐PEG) and adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) membrane, is presented. The approach is facile, time‐efficient, and noncytotoxic. Systemically administered DMPE‐PEG‐P‐selectin binding peptide modified ADSCs (DPP‐ADSCs) exhibit significantly increased targeting ability to vascular injuries. This study demonstrates advantageous mechanisms of repair, providing new preclinical avenues for cardiovascular disease treatment.