Advanced Applications of Nanomaterials in Atherosclerosis Diagnosis and Treatment: Challenges and Future Prospects

Atherosclerosis-induced coronary artery disease is a major cause of cardiovascular mortality. Clinically, conservative treatment strategies for atherosclerosis still focus on lifestyle interventions and the use of lipid-lowering and anticoagulant medications. Despite achieving some therapeutic effects, these approaches are limited by low bioavailability, long intervention periods, and significant side effects. With the advancement of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have demonstrated extraordinary potential in the biomedical field. Their excellent biocompatibility, surface modifiability, and high targeting capability not only enable efficient diagnosis of plaque progression but also allow precise drug delivery within atherosclerotic plaques, significantly enhancing drug bioavailability and reducing systemic side effects. Here, we systematically review the current research progress of nanomaterials in the field of atherosclerosis to summarize not only the types of nanomaterials but also their applications in both the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Notably, in the context of plaque therapy, we provide a comprehensive overview of current nanomaterial applications based on their targeted therapeutic systems for different cell types within plaques. Additionally, we address the persistent challenge of clinical translation of nanomaterials by summarizing current issues and providing directions for innovation and improvement in nanomaterial design. Overall, we believe that this review systematically summarizes the applications and challenges of biomedical nanomaterials in atherosclerosis diagnosis and therapy, thereby offering insights and references for the development of therapeutic materials for atherosclerosis.