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Progress in Stimuli-Responsive Biomaterials for Treating Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Christos Tapeinos1, Han Gao1,2, Tomás Bauleth-Ramos1,2
1Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland.
Insights
Stimuli-responsive biomaterials offer advanced therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs). This review highlights smart biomaterials targeting diseased tissues for potential early-stage CCVD treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cardiovascular Research
- Neurology
Background:
- Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) are leading global causes of mortality.
- Ischemic heart disease and stroke account for significant worldwide deaths.
- Current therapeutic approaches for CCVDs require advancement due to rising mortality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in stimuli-responsive biomaterials for CCVDs.
- To highlight the potential of these "smart" biomaterials in preclinical settings.
- To explore targeted therapeutic strategies for heart and brain vascular conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on stimuli-responsive biomaterials.
- Analysis of materials that respond to altered environmental cues.
- Examination of preclinical studies in the last five years.
Main Results:
- Stimuli-responsive biomaterials demonstrate targeted delivery to diseased tissues.
- These materials exhibit altered physicochemical properties or morphology in response to stimuli.
- Significant progress has been made in developing "smart" biomaterials for CCVDs.
Conclusions:
- Stimuli-responsive biomaterials represent a promising frontier in CCVD therapeutics.
- Their ability to target and respond to disease environments offers novel treatment potential.
- Further preclinical research is crucial to translate these advancements into clinical applications.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) describe abnormal vascular system conditions affecting the brain and heart. Among these, ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide, resulting in 16% and 11% of deaths globally. Although several therapeutic approaches are presented over the years, the continuously increasing mortality rates suggest the need for more advanced strategies for their treatment. One of these strategies lies in the use of stimuli-responsive biomaterials. These "smart" biomaterials can specifically target the diseased tissue, and after "reading" the altered environmental cues, they can respond by altering their physicochemical properties and/or their morphology. In this review, the progress in the field of stimuli-responsive biomaterials for CCVDs in the last five years, aiming at highlighting their potential as early-stage therapeutics in the preclinical scenery, is described.
