Abstract

Despite substantial progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high; stroke and myocardial infarction are still one of the biggest killers worldwide.1 One hallmark of a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque causing a clinical event is the presence of cholesterol crystals (CC) that are fuelled by high plasma cholesterol levels. These deposits are extremely pro-inflammatory which contributes to plaque inflammation, instability and rupture.

Highlights

  • Despite substantial progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high; stroke and myocardial infarction are still one of the biggest killers worldwide.[1]

  • Primary preventions and treatments have focused on lipid-lowering drugs and, more recently, anti-inflammatory drugs.[2]

  • Some patients still suffer fatal events due to cholesterol crystals (CC) triggered inflammation that is already well established before treatment is initiated

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Summary

Introduction

Despite substantial progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high; stroke and myocardial infarction are still one of the biggest killers worldwide.[1]. Primary preventions and treatments have focused on lipid-lowering drugs and, more recently, anti-inflammatory drugs.[2] Despite encouraging results, some patients still suffer fatal events due to CC triggered inflammation that is already well established before treatment is initiated. Nanomedicine, a rapidly developing field with some remarkable preclinical achievements so far, holds a lot of promise in the delivery of more potent and specific therapies for atherosclerosis.[3] The range of activities in the field has significantly increased over the last decade thanks to substantive investments and the emergence of new companies focusing exclusively on nanotechnology.

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Conclusion

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