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Peer-reviewedCC BYTheranostics

Atherosclerosis nanotheranostics: a perspective from macrophages.

  • Caiyan Zhao1,2
  • Jiakun Zhang3
  • Rujie Wang1,2
  • Shen'ao Wang1,2
  • Hongzhang Deng1,2
  1. 1School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
  2. 2International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
  3. 3Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050051, China.
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Abstract

The mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has ranked number one in the world over the years. Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease, is a key pathological factor in the occurrence and development of CVDs, characterized by lipid accumulation and plaque formation in arteries. Macrophages is the critical contributor to the progression of AS, and macrophage-related pathological processes have received considerable attention as an extremely important target for the diagnosis and treatment of AS. Biomaterial-based nanotechnology offers the possibility of selective and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents to atherosclerotic macrophages, shows the potential to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of AS, contributes to improve the therapeutic outcomes and imaging accuracy, and further minishes the risk of CVDs. This review provides a well-rounded snapshot of the features, functions, and critical roles of macrophages in the development and progression of AS, as well as the recent advances in the application of macrophage-related nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of AS, with specific emphasis on the design and integration of nanomaterials for specific macrophages-manipulating. Finally, the challenges and prospects of macrophage-based nanotechnologies for the prevention and treatment of AS are also discussed in depth, aiming to inspire innovative thinking and facilitate the ever-fast development of nanomedicine for AS.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{zhao2026atherosclerosis,
  title = {{Atherosclerosis nanotheranostics: a perspective from macrophages.}},
  author = {Caiyan Zhao and Jiakun Zhang and Rujie Wang and Shen'ao Wang and Hongzhang Deng},
  journal = {Theranostics},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.7150/thno.121239},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909384},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Atherosclerosis nanotheranostics: a perspective from macrophages.
AU  - Caiyan Zhao
AU  - Jiakun Zhang
AU  - Rujie Wang
AU  - Shen'ao Wang
AU  - Hongzhang Deng
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/02
JO  - Theranostics
DO  - 10.7150/thno.121239
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909384
AB  - The mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has ranked number one in the world over the years. Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease, is a key pathological factor in the occurrence and development of CVDs, characterized by lipid accumulation and plaque formation in arteries. Macrophages is the critical contributor to the progression of AS, and macrophage-related pathological processes have received considerable attention as an extremely important target for the diagnosis and treatment of AS. Biomaterial-based nanotechnology offers the possibility of selective and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents to atherosclerotic macrophages, shows the potential to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of AS, contributes to improve the therapeutic outcomes and imaging accuracy, and further minishes the risk of CVDs. This review provides a well-rounded snapshot of the features, functions, and critical roles of macrophages in the development and progression of AS, as well as the recent advances in the application of macrophage-related nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of AS, with specific emphasis on the design and integration of nanomaterials for specific macrophages-manipulating. Finally, the challenges and prospects of macrophage-based nanotechnologies for the prevention and treatment of AS are also discussed in depth, aiming to inspire innovative thinking and facilitate the ever-fast development of nanomedicine for AS.
SN  - 1838-7640
ER  -