Combating atherosclerosis with targeted nanomedicines: recent advances and future prospective

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are recognized as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The increasing prevalence of such disease demand novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to overcome associated clinical/social issues. Recent advances in nanotechnology and biological sciences have provided intriguing insights to employ targeted nanosystems (NSs) to the desired location as multifunctional system for diagnosis, imaging and therapy of various diseases, including CVDs. Nanomedicines, as novel tool for improved drug delivery, imaging, and diagnosis, have shown great promise in combating the CVDs. Methods: In the current study, we intend to review the most recent studies on the nano-based strategies for improved management of the CVDs. Results: A cascade of biological events can result in the formation of atheromatous plaque and arterial stenosis, which need to be controlled. Recent studies have shown that nanomedicines can provide unique therapeutic benefits in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Despite some limitations, nanomedicines hold considerable potentials in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various formidable diseases such as atherosclerosis. They offer various benefits, including maximal therapeutic effects with minimal side effects, amenable physicochemical properties such as surface modifications, and multifunctionality. Therefore, it is strongly envisioned that by the targeted drug delivery to the atherosclerotic lesions and plaque using nanomedicines, the onset and progression of CVDs can be efficiently managedin comparsion with the currently used classical treatment modalities.