Figure 2. Multifunctional and stimuli-sensitive NDDSs in cardiovascular pathologies and infectious diseases.
a | Nanoparticulate pharmaceutical drug delivery systems (NDDSs) can be engineered to target activated macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques or proteins present in a clot. These nanoparticles can thereby reduce plaque size through these two distinct mechanisms. b | NDDSs can be used to deliver metals to bacteria, where they can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce membrane blebbing and DNA damage. Antibiotics can also be delivered intracellularly using NDDSs.