Treatments that cause issues when administered systemically (such as via oral ingestion or intravenous injection) at the doses required to place enough of the therapeutic in a specific location in the body can be made practical via methods targeting delivery to specific cells. Here, researchers use liposomes attached to a muscle-targeted peptide to deliver the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to muscle cells. EGCG is otherwise problematic, causing liver toxicity at high doses, and has low bioavailability when ingested. Nonetheless it does have interesting effects on inflammation, cholesterol metabolism, and mitochondrial function which is why researchers are making use of it here in the context of muscle aging.
Skeletal muscle aging frequently leads to a reduction in muscle mass and strength, significantly compromising the quality of life in elderly individuals. Skeletal muscle dysfunction during aging is widely recognized to be closely linked to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we confirmed the successful synthesis of M12 (muscle homing peptide)-modified EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) liposomes (M12EGLP) and validated their specific targeting to skeletal muscle through immunofluorescence analysis and in vivo imaging in small animal models.
Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that M12EGLP effectively suppressed the expression of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-6, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and restoring mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. These effects ultimately contributed to the improvement of skeletal muscle dysfunction in aging mice, improving motor function and regenerative capacity. Therefore, as a novel and targeted drug delivery system, M12EGLP may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of age-related skeletal muscle dysfunction.
