Convergence of nanotechnology and cardiovascular medicine : progress and emerging prospects

Advances in the emergence of biological probes, materials, and analytical tools limited to the nanoscale size range, collectively referred to as 'nanotechnology', are increasingly being applied to the understanding and treatment of the major pathophysiological problems in cardiovascular medicine. Analytical techniques based on high-resolution microscopy and molecular-level fluorescence excitation processes capable of detecting nanoscale interactions have been used to elucidate cardiovascular pathology. Nanotechnology has also significantly impacted diagnostic intervention in cardiology, with the use of nanoparticles as contrast agents, for targeted biomedical imaging of vulnerable plaques, for detection of specific pathologic targets signaling the onset of atherosclerosis, and for tracking inflammatory events. Real-time nanoscale biosensors can be used to measure cardiovascular biomarkers, and nanopore sequencing has the potential to speed up the analysis of gene expression in cardiovascular disease. Potential therapeutic applications include the use of nanomaterials in cardiovascular devices, for delivery of drugs and bioactive molecules, or in novel technologies for reducing cholesterol accumulation and for dissolving clots.