Nanomedicina1

This document discusses opportunities for using nanomedicine to address cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, it proposes using perfluorocarbon nanoparticles targeted with ligands to noninvasively assess and treat atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients. The nanoparticles could detect plaque neovasculature using MRI to identify vulnerable lesions. They could also locally deliver antiangiogenic drugs at much lower doses than systemic treatments to reduce plaque progression. Preliminary studies in rabbits found targeted fumagillin nanoparticles significantly reduced integrin expression, indicating reduced angiogenesis, after one week.