Stimuli-responsive polymer-based nanosystems for cardiovascular disease theranostics

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stimulus-responsive polymers change structure in response to internal (pH, ROS, enzymes) or external (light) triggers.
• These polymers are crucial for developing smart nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• Stimulus-responsive nanosystems offer advantages over traditional methods, including higher sensitivity, versatility, applicability, and biosafety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in stimulus-responsive polymer nanosystems for CVDs diagnosis and treatment.
• To classify nanocarriers based on responsiveness types and relevant stimuli.
• To discuss applications in CVDs theranostics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on stimulus-responsive polymers for CVDs.
• Classification of nanocarriers by responsiveness and stimuli.
• Discussion of theranostic applications.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in designing stimulus-responsive polymer nanosystems for CVDs.
• Various stimuli (pH, ROS, enzymes, light) are utilized for targeted drug delivery.
• These systems show promise for both diagnosing and treating CVDs.

Conclusions:

• Stimulus-responsive polymers offer a promising platform for advanced CVDs theranostics.
• Optimizing nanocarrier design is key to accelerating clinical translation.
• Further research can enhance the efficacy and safety of these smart materials for cardiovascular health.