Figure 1:

Targeted therapeutic strategies enabled by nanoparticles. In order to avoid adverse effects and toxicities due to systemic exposure, targeted nanoparticles have been developed to resolve inflammation specifically at the inflamed plaque (e.g. Collagen-IV targeted IL-10 NPs¹⁷), prevent plaque neovascularization (e.g. α_vβ₃-targed anti-angiogenic NPs⁶⁵), and deliver anti-proliferative or thrombolytic drugs to address restenosis and atherothrombotic events (e.g. endothelial-targeted NPs encapsulating paclitaxel⁷⁵, vWF-targeted NPs encapsulating tPA⁸¹). Nanoparticles have also enabled cell-specific modulation of molecules that drive atherosclerosis, such as CD40-induced TRAF6 signaling in macrophages⁴⁵ and regulation of PCSK9 in hepatocytes.⁵⁵