Protective Effects of Nanoparticle-Loaded Aliskiren on Cardiovascular System in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Figures

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  Figure 1. SEM images of nanoparticles (NP) (a) and nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS) (b) with corresponding histograms of particle size obtained from the SEM images.

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  Figure 2. Time stability (left) and temperature stability (right) of NP and NP ALIS measured by DLS.

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  Figure 3. UV/vis spectrum of aliskiren (left) and calibration curve of pure aliskiren (inset). Time dependence drug release from NP ALIS at 37 °C and at different pH (right).

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  Figure 4. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (CTRL), * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.

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  Figure 5. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS) and nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS) on vasoactivity of mesenteric artery. Endothelium-dependent relaxations (A), contractions induced by exogenous noradrenaline (B), neurogenic contractions (C), and contractions induced by high concentration of KCl (D). Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 measurements. Significant differences: * (**) (***) p < 0.05 (0.01) (0.001) ALIS or NP ALIS vs. CTRL.

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  Figure 6. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on total nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the left ventricle (A) and aorta (B). * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.

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  Figure 7. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression in the left ventricle (A) and aorta (B). * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.

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  Figure 8. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein expression in the left ventricle (A) and aorta (B). * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.

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  Figure 9. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on collagen content in the heart (A) and aorta (B). * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.

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  Figure 10. Effect of powdered aliskiren (ALIS), nanoparticle-loaded aliskiren (NP ALIS), and nanoparticles only (NP) on cross sectional area (CSA) (A) and wall thickness – inner diameter ratio (WT/ID) (B) of the aorta. * p < 0.01 vs. CTRL; Values represent mean ± SEM of 6 animals.