AUTHOR=Li Xue , Wu Menglin , Li Jiang , Guo Qi , Zhao Yang , Zhang Xuening 

TITLE=Advanced targeted nanomedicines for vulnerable atherosclerosis plaque imaging and their potential clinical implications

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.906512

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.906512

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Atherosclerosis plaques caused cerebrovascular and coronary artery disease has been the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Precise assessment the degree of atherosclerotic plaque is critical for predicting the risk of atherosclerosis plaques and monitoring postinterventional outcomes. However, traditional imaging techniques to predict cardiocerebrovascular events mainly depend on quantifying the percentage reduction in luminal diameter, which would immensely underestimate non–stenotic high–risk plaque. How to identify the degree of atherosclerosis plaques still remains highly limited. Nanomedicines–based imaging techniques present unique advantages over conventional techniques due to the superior properties intrinsic to nano scope, which possess enormously potential to characterization and detection of the features of atherosclerosis plaque vulnerability. Here, we review recent advancements in the development of targeted nanomedicines–based approaches and their applications to atherosclerosis plaques imaging and risk stratification. Finally, the challenges and opportunities regarding the future development and clinical translation of the targeted nanomedicine in related fields are discussed.