Research Spotlight: Functionalized nanoparticles for future cardiovascular medicine.
All research investment has the goal of improving quality of life and health status. In recent years, the emerging technologies in nanomedicine research provide us a new frontier in the fight against human disease. By taking advantage of the unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs), nanomedicine where drugs are blended into nanomaterials readily offers a wide range of applications in the tracing, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Although the application of therapeutic NPs is predominantly for cancer treatment, growing evidence has demonstrated the feasibility and potency of utilizing NPs for cardiovascular disease therapy. However, more consideration is required in this aspect due to limitations such as unfavorable particle retention in the contractile heart and the lack of cardiomyocyte markers for targeting.
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Elsie Khai-Woon
EK
Toh
Ming-Yao
MY
Chang
Patrick Ch
PCh
Hsieh