Nanoparticle-Mediated Drug Delivery System for Cardiovascular Disease (original) (raw)

Abstract

Administration of drugs and other therapeutic agents has been the central strategy of contemporary medicine for cardiovascular disease. The use of a drug delivery system (DDS) is always demanded to enhance the efficacy and safety of therapeutic agents, and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of imaging agents. Nano-scale materials modify in vivo drug kinetics, depending on (patho)physiological mechanisms such as vascular permeability and incorporation by the mononuclear phagocyte system, which constitute ‘passive-targeting’ properties of nano-DDS. By contrast, an ‘active-targeting’ strategy employs a specific targeting structure on nano-DDS, which binds to the target molecule that is specific for a certain disease process, such as tumor specific antigens and the induction of adhesion molecules. In this review, we summarize recent studies that applied nano-DDS for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially focusing on atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Pathophysiological changes in atherosclerosis and myocardial IR injury are successfully targeted by nano-DDS and preclinical studies in animals showed positive effects of nano-DDS enhancing efficacy and reducing adverse effects. The development of nano-DDS in clinical medicine is keenly being awaited.