Theranostics of atherosclerosis by the indole molecule-templated self-assembly of probucol nanoparticles

Research progress on the therapeutic effects of nanoparticles loaded with drugs against atherosclerosis

Presently, there are many drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS), among which lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative drugs have been the most studied. These drugs have been shown to have inhibitory effects on the development of AS. Nanoparticles are suitable for AS treatment research due to their fine-tunable and modifiable properties. Compared with drug monotherapy, experimental results have proven that the effects of nanoparticle-encapsulated drugs are significantly enhanced. In addition to nanoparticles containing a single drug, there have been many studies on collaborative drug treatment, collaborative physical treatment (ultrasound, near-infrared lasers, and external magnetic field), and the integration of diagnosis and treatment. This review provides an introduction to the therapeutic effects of nanoparticles loaded with drugs to treat AS and summarizes their advantages, including increased targeting ability, sustained drug release, improved bioavailability, reduced toxicity, and inhibition of plaque and vascular stenosis.

Recent Advancement of Indocyanine Green Based Nanotheranostics for Imaging and Therapy of Coronary Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a vascular intima condition in which any part of the circulatory system is affected, including the aorta and coronary arteries. Indocyanine green (ICG), a theranostic compound approved by the FDA, has shown promise in the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis after incorporation into nanoplatforms. By integration of ICG with targeting agents such as peptides or antibodies, it is feasible to increase its concentration in damaged arteries, hence increasing atherosclerosis detection. Nanotheranostics offers cutting-edge techniques for the clinical diagnosis and therapy of atherosclerotic plaques. Combining the optical properties of ICG with those of nanocarriers enables the improved imaging of atherosclerotic plaques and targeted therapeutic interventions. Several ICG-based nanotheranostics platforms have been developed such as polymeric nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles, biomimetic systems, liposomes, peptide-based systems, etc. Theranostics for atherosclerosis diagnosis use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, photoacoustic/ultrasound imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging techniques. In addition to imaging, there is growing interest in employing ICG to treat atherosclerosis. In this review, we provide a conceptual explanation of ICG-based nanotheranostics for the imaging and therapy of coronary atherosclerosis. Moreover, advancements in imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET, SPECT, and ultrasound/photoacoustic have been discussed. Furthermore, we highlight the applications of ICG for coronary atherosclerosis.

Mapping research performance and hotspots on nanoparticles in cardiovascular diseases

Nanoparticles have broad prospects and profound academic significance in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to comprehensively summarize the global scientific achievements of nanoparticles in cardiovascular diseases research. Articles on the application of nanoparticles in cardiovascular diseases published from 2002 to 2021 were retrieved from the science citation index expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection, and knowledge maps were generated by Cite Space, VOS viewer, and Hist Cite for further bibliometric analysis. A total of 4321 records were retrieved, and only reviews and articles were retained with a total of 4258 studies. The number of publications on nanoparticles in the cardiovascular field has steadily increased from 2002 to 2021. China and the US contribute the most to this field, producing nearly all the most influential authors and institutions in the top 10 list. The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Harvard University have obtained many high-quality research results. Targeted drug delivery via nanoparticles, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis are research hotspots. This is the first time to analyze the application of nanoparticles in the cardiovascular field by using multiple bibliometric software. This study provides evidence for researchers to understand the hotspots and directions in this area.

Recent Progress in in vitro Models for Atherosclerosis Studies

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of hardening and narrowing arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease accounting for the high mortality in the United States. For developing effective treatments for atherosclerosis, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing in vitro models. Compared to animal models, in vitro models can provide great opportunities to obtain data more efficiently, economically. Therefore, this review discusses the recent progress in in vitro models for atherosclerosis studies, including traditional two-dimensional (2D) systems cultured on the tissue culture plate, 2D cell sheets, and recently emerged microfluidic chip models with 2D culture. In addition, advanced in vitro three-dimensional models such as spheroids, cell-laden hydrogel constructs, tissue-engineered blood vessels, and vessel-on-a-chip will also be covered. Moreover, the functions of these models are also summarized along with model discussion. Lastly, the future perspectives of this field are discussed.

ROS-Based Nanoparticles for Atherosclerosis Treatment

Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic arterial disease, is the leading cause of death in western developed countries. Considering its long-term asymptomatic progression and serious complications, the early prevention and effective treatment of AS are particularly important. The unique characteristics of nanoparticles (NPs) make them attractive in novel therapeutic and diagnostic applications, providing new options for the treatment of AS. With the assistance of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based NPs, drugs can reach specific lesion areas, prolong the therapeutic effect, achieve targeted controlled release and reduce adverse side effects. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of AS and the generation and removal strategy of ROS. We further discussed ROS-based NPs, and summarized their biomedical applications in scavenger and drug delivery. Furthermore, we highlighted the recent advances, challenges and future perspectives of ROS-based NPs for treating AS.