Nanoparticles for diagnosis and therapy of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction: evolution toward prospective theranostic approaches

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are the primary global cause of mortality.
• Early detection of atherosclerosis, a key underlying mechanism, remains challenging.
• Current diagnostics often miss subclinical stages, leading to severe events like myocardial infarction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development of nanosystems for diagnosing and treating atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction.
• To explore the evolution of nanosystems into theranostic tools.
• To discuss nanoparticle applications in imaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy for cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of nanosystems in cardiovascular disease research.
• Analysis of nanoparticle-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
• Examination of theranostic applications and clinical translation challenges.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles show promise for early detection and targeted treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
• Multifunctional nanosystems enable combined diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) approaches.
• Applications include noninvasive imaging, targeted drug delivery, and photothermal therapies.

Conclusions:

• Nanosystems represent a significant advancement in managing cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis.
• Theranostic nanoparticles offer a unified approach for diagnosis and treatment.
• Overcoming clinical translation challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of nanosystems.