Use of Three-Dimensional Arterial Models To Predict the In Vivo Behavior of Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Nanomaterials have been widely used for applications in biomedical fields and could become indispensable in the near future. However, since it is difficult to optimize invivo biological behavior in a 3D environment by using a single cell invitro, there have been many failures in animal models. Invitro prediction systems using 3D human-tissue models reflecting the 3D location of cell types may be useful to better understand the biological characteristics of nanomaterials for optimization of their function. Herein we demonstrate the potential ability of 3D engineered human-arterial models for invitro prediction of the invivo behavior of nanoparticles for drug delivery. These models enabled optimization of the composition and size of the nanoparticles for targeting and treatment efficacy for atherosclerosis. Invivo experiments with atherosclerotic mice suggested excellent biological characteristics and potential treatment effects of the nanoparticles optimized in vitro.