Background: Thanks to a nanotechnological approach, our group has recently designed and patented Hyaluronic acid coated imatinib loaded liposomes (XHALIP) that specifically target CD44+ cells for the inhalatory treatment of fibrogenic lung disorders.

Aim: Based on encouraging in vitro data, we aimed to assess whether Intratracheal (IT) administration of  XHALIP was able to  prevent lung fibrosis in the mouse bleomycin model. Imatinib free drug was given either IT or intra-peritoneal (IP).  

Methods: Fibrosis model consists in a intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. XHALIP delivery was started at day +10 post and repeated every 5 days till sacrifice (day 28). Lung tissue was analysed by HE, Masson's trichrome, IHC with Anti-TGF-1?, anti CD4 or anti CD8 Ab. BAL differentials were analysed.

Results: Local administration of XHALIP was associated to a significant (p<0.01) decrease of: alveolar inflammation, lung fibrosis (Fig1), collagen deposition, TGF-beta expression, at a higher rate that free Imatinib IP and IT.

Conclusion: These in vivo results confirm the validity of a targeted local nano-based treatment to inflammatory-driven lung fibrogenesis