To achieve the combination therapy of acute myocardial ischemia, arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) conjugated lipid was synthesized and RGD modified, salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and panax notoginsenoside (PNS) co-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (RGD-S/P-LPNs) was fabricated an evaluated.

RGD was conjugated to distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG-NH₂) through amide linkage. Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) were fabricated by nanoprecipitation method. RGD-S/P-LPNs was characterized in terms of morphology, size, charge, drug loading, entrapment, stability, drug release and cytotoxicity in vitro. Cardiac distribution, pharmacokinetics study and infarct therapy effect were evaluated in vivo.

The LPNs are generally spherical in shape with uniform size distribution, have sizes of 100–200nm and zeta potentials range from −30.7∼ −39.8. In vitro release behaviors of drugs loaded LPNs are in a sustained release manner, which does not exhibit obviously cytotoxicity against H9c2 cardiomyocytes. RGD-S/P-LPNs group shows the most significant cardiac distribution and infarct therapy effect in vivo.

The results illustrated that RGD modified dual drugs co-loaded LPNs are stable, sustained release carriers. Cardiac distribution, pharmacokinetics, and infarct therapy effect results suggested that the RGD-S/P-LPNs could improve the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of the double drugs.