Abstract
•Novel nanostructures can improve the stability, water solubility and absorbability of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, reagents or drugs;.•The protection prevents small molecular agents from physiological degradation which extends their circulation time;.•By decorating with functional probes, nanomaterials afford activity agents higher binding and absorption efficiency to target cells and tissues;.•Reducing active agents’ side effects and toxicity.
Atherosclerosis is a sort of chronic inflammatory disease mainly caused by the accumulation of lipoproteins on the blood vessel walls. Many cardiovascular diseases with high mortality, like ischemic cerebral stroke and ischemic heart disease, are promoted by atherosclerosis. Currently, there is much space for improvement in clinical monitoring and treatment of atherosclerosis. The development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials provides solutions to certain shortcomings of current programs. The present article first reviews the nanomaterials-based therapeutic strategies as well as the related pathogenesis and influencing factors of atherosclerosis. In addition, the main recent developed nanomaterials-based protocols in order to early diagnosis and better monitor for atherosclerosis have been classified and summarized. Subsequently, we list the clinical progress of nanomaterials in the treatment and diagnosis of atherosclerosis in recent years and analyze the current main dilemmas, as well. This review aims to reveal the essential role of nanomaterials in atherosclerosis management and thus provide new insights to promote the further development of nanomaterials-based medicines thus better service in the field of human life and health.
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