Nanotechnological approach to delivering nutraceuticals as promising drug candidates for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is Caesar's sword, which poses a huge risk to the present generation. Understanding the atherosclerotic disease cycle would allow ensuring improved diagnosis, better care, and treatment. Unfortunately, a highly effective and safe way of treating atherosclerosis in the medical community remains a continuous challenge. Conventional treatments have shown considerable success, but have some adverse effects on the human body. Natural derived medications or nutraceuticals have gained immense popularity in the treatment of atherosclerosis due to their decreased side effects and toxicity-related issues. In hindsight, the contribution of nutraceuticals in imparting enhanced clinical efficacy against atherosclerosis warrants more experimental evidence. On the other hand, nanotechnology and drug delivery systems (DDS) have revolutionized the way therapeutics are performed and researchers have been constantly exploring the positive effects that DDS brings to the field of therapeutic techniques. It could be as exciting as ever to apply nano-mediated delivery of nutraceuticals as an additional strategy to target the atherosclerotic sites boasting high therapeutic efficiency of the nutraceuticals and fewer side effects.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; NPs; anti-inflammatory drugs; bio-markers; nutraceuticals.

Figure 1.

Steps in atherosclerosis initiation and progression: Atherosclerosis is characterized by a yellow color lesion formation. LDL gets converted to Ox-LDL after reaction with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Monocytes travel through leaky endothelium and differentiates into macrophages. Macrophage assimilates the Ox-LDL to form foam cells. Calcification and monocyte recruitment cause smooth cell proliferation and forms a necrotic core.

Figure 2.

Schematic representation of different risk factors and biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis useful in disease diagnosis and progression.

Figure 3.

Schematic illustration of various kinds of nutraceuticals experimentally studied to prevent/treat atherosclerotic disease development and progression.

Figure 4.

Nanotechnology and targeted drug delivery: Schematic representation of a nano-drug delivery system encapsulated with active molecules and surface modified with different targeting moieties having both therapeutic and diagnostic abilities.

Figure 5.

Schematic representation of nano-nutraceuticals when administrated to atherosclerosis disease site will improve their therapeutic efficacy due to the enhancement in bioavailability.

Figure 6.

(i(a)). Schematic illustration of macrophage-targeted gold core nanoparticle Au-HDL. HDL = high-density lipoprotein. (i(b)) Characterization of Au-HDL on negative-stain transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. (ii(A–C)), Spectral CT images of thorax and abdomen in apo E–KO mouse injected 24 h earlier with Au-HDL. (ii(D, E)), Spectral CT images near bifurcation of aorta in apo E–KO mouse injected with Au-HDL and an iodinated emulsion contrast agent (Fenestra VC) for vascular imaging. (Reproduced with the permission from D. P. Cormode et al. [Cormode et al., 2010]. Copyright 2010 Radiology).