Advances of nanoparticle-mediated diagnostic and theranostic strategies for atherosclerosis

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaque remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accurate assessment of the degree of atherosclerotic plaque is critical for predicting the risk of atherosclerotic plaque and monitoring the results after intervention. Compared with traditional technology, the imaging technologies of nanoparticles have distinct advantages and great development prospects in the identification and characterization of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Here, we systematically summarize the latest advances of targeted nanoparticle approaches in the diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque, including multimodal imaging, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, exosome diagnosis, and highlighted the theranostic progress as a new therapeutic strategy. Finally, we discuss the major challenges that need to be addressed for future development and clinical transformation.

Detection of atherosclerotic plaques with HDL-like porphyrin nanoparticles using an intravascular dual-modality optical coherence tomography and fluorescence system

“…Various fluorescently labelled nanoparticles have been previously explored in animal models for detecting atherosclerotic plaques 8 , 22 , 23 . Often, nanoparticles administered in the blood stream are coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to facilitate prolonged circulation time 24 .…”

Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for the Targeted Treatment of Atherosclerosis

“…More research is needed to understand the biological behaviour of NPs, including pharmacokinetics, targeting efficiency, and biocompatibility [ 153 ]. Additionally, exploring ultra-shear-responsive nanoplatforms that can quickly react to even a tiny change in shear force is still a very difficult task in the case of atherosclerosis, which benefits from enhanced shear stress in the plaque area.…”