Cardiovascular disease CVD is a leading cause of death worldwide and poses a significant challenge for patients, clinicians and researchers. CVD includes various diseases that affect the heart, blood vessels, and blood. Nanomedicine is an exciting field aimed at improving patient outcomes through breakthrough therapeutics, imaging tools, and ex vivo diagnostics. In a study recently published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, researchers examine recent advances in nanomedicine treatment options for cardiovascular disease. Cancer immunotherapy has made great strides, but CVD immunotherapy is still in its early stages. Targeting the innate immune system can have significant risks, including compromising natural defenses and increasing the risk of infection and sepsis. Various nanotherapies have been created to specifically target phagocytic macrophages and inflammatory monocytes iMos that are known for their ability to take up nanomaterials and subsequently contribute to inflammation and disease development. These cells can also initiate immune responses, monitor trained immunity, and naturally migrate to areas of inflammation like atherosclerotic plaques. Nanomaterials have the potential to deliver therapeutics that can inhibit macrophage and monocyte proliferation and trafficking, activate and polarize helper T-cells, trigger cholesterol efflux, and boost apoptosis. Taken together, these processes can help facilitate the anti-inflammatory resolution of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as the physiological factors associated with other CVDs. Various studies have utilized myeloid-targeting ligands or cellular phagocytosis to selectively target nanomaterials and increase sensitivity to ultimately limit the potentially negative effects of these agents. Nanomaterial libraries can also be screened in vivo to improve immune cell selectivity. Nanoimaging Various types of nanomaterials, including magnetic, acoustic, optical, and nuclear nanomaterials, have been used for preclinical CVD nanoimaging, especially for atherosclerosis detection. Nanomaterials can produce signal contrast consistent with homogeneous imaging modalities. For example, magnetic iron oxide nanomaterials can be used for magnetic resonance imaging MRI and myocardial perfusion imaging MPI, and gold nanomaterials can be used for computed tomography CT imaging.
Date: Apr 6 2023
