Sonodynamic therapy for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Oncology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arterial disease with high mortality and disability rates despite current treatments.
• Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) emerges as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for AS.
• SDT offers localized treatment for inhibiting atherosclerotic progression and stabilizing plaques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review ultrasonic parameters and sonosensitizers used in SDT for AS.
• To elaborate on the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of SDT in AS.
• To discuss the safety and establish a framework for future SDT research in AS.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on SDT for atherosclerosis.
• Analysis of ultrasonic parameters and sonosensitizers.
• Elaboration on SDT's effects on cellular and molecular components of atherosclerotic plaques.

Main Results:

• SDT demonstrates therapeutic effects on apoptosis and autophagy in AS cells, particularly macrophages.
• SDT influences macrophages, T lymphocytes, neovascularization, smooth muscle cells, lipids, and extracellular matrix within plaques.
• Non-lethal SDT strategies and efferocytosis modulation are discussed.

Conclusions:

• SDT is a promising non-invasive therapy for atherosclerosis, with established effects on plaque components and cellular processes.
• Further research is needed to optimize SDT parameters and sonosensitizers for clinical application in AS.
• This review provides a comprehensive framework for future research into SDT for atherosclerosis.