Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for around 30% of deaths worldwide (Mc Namara, Alzubaidi, & Jackson, 2019). Atherosclerosis (AE) is the main underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of CVDs. AE is a chronic-degenerative disease initiated by the dysfunction of the endothelial layer which leads to the accumulation and retention of cholesterol-containing low-density lipoproteins in the sub-endothelial space due to a complex interplay between activated leukocytes (monocytes, macrophages, and T cells) and the inflamed endothelium(Bergheanu, Bodde, & Jukema, 2017). This phenomenon progresses through the formation of a plaque in the intima of arteries which often compromise the residual lumen, leading to ischemic events and even the total occlusion of the artery or the plaque rupture giving rise to artery diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke (IS).

The present work proposes the design and evaluation of biomimetic artificial nanocells (ANs)(Soprano, Alvarez, Pelaz, del Pino, & Polo, 2020), that is, nanovesicles technologically reconstructed from the whole cytoplasmic cellular membranes of macrophages (RAW 264.7), which play a key role in AE development. In these ANs, the statin drug pravastatin was encapsulated, taking profit of the protection provided by the biomimetic nanocarrier as well as the targeting ability provided by the expressed cell membrane receptors from the parent cells. Pravastatin-loaded ANs demonstrated to be a promising biomimetic drug delivery system for the treatment of AE as confirmed by their selective cell internalization, reduction Ox-LDL uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increases in cholesterol efflux levels.