Research progress in nanoparticles in targeted diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a common vascular disease， which is characterized by lipid deposition and related inflammatory reactions. Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is the main pathological cause of acute cardiovascular events. Therefore， early detection and timely interventional treatment of vulnerable plaques are of clinical significance. Although a variety of clinical methods have been developed for the diagnosis and treatment of vulnerable plaques， the acute clinical events caused by vulnerable plaques frequently occur. Nanoparticles have shown huge potential in this regard. Nanoparticles are widely applied in imaging because their unique optical properties can efficiently label tissues and cells to detect the state of disease. Metal nanoparticles can achieve high-resolution imaging， which can also be used as drug delivery carriers to improve therapeutic effect. In this article， recent research progress in the use of nanoparticles in targeted diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques was reviewed， and the future development of nanoparticles in related fields and the challenges and opportunities for clinical transformation were also illustrated.

Keywords

• atherosclerosis|vulnerable plaque|nanoparticles|targeted diagnosis|contrast medium|molecular imaging technique