title: Nanomedicine for the molecular diagnosis of cardiovascular pathologies.
abstract: Predicting acute clinical events caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture remains a clinical challenge. Anatomic mapping of the vascular tree provided by standard imaging technologies is not always sufficient for a robust diagnosis. Yet biological mechanisms leading to unstable plaques have been identified and corresponding biomarkers have been described. Nanosystems charged with contrast agents and targeted towards these specific biomarkers have been developed for several types of imaging modalities. The first systems that have reached the clinic are ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Their potential relies on their passive accumulation by predominant physiological mechanisms in rupture-prone plaques. Active targeting strategies are under development to improve their specificity and set up other types of nanoplatforms. Preclinical results show a huge potential of nanomedicine for cardiovascular diagnosis, as long as the safety of these nanosystems in the body is studied in depth.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1148, Cardiovascular Bio-Engineering, X. Bichat Hospital, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris 13, Institut Galilée, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juenet
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1148, Cardiovascular Bio-Engineering, X. Bichat Hospital, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris 13, Institut Galilée, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varna
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1148, Cardiovascular Bio-Engineering, X. Bichat Hospital, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris 13, Institut Galilée, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Rachida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aid-Launais
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1148, Cardiovascular Bio-Engineering, X. Bichat Hospital, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris 13, Institut Galilée, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France. Electronic address: cedric.chauvierre@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chauvierre
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1148, Cardiovascular Bio-Engineering, X. Bichat Hospital, 75018, Paris, France; Université Paris 13, Institut Galilée, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Letourneur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015335:Molecular Probes
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Molecular imaging; Nanomedicine; Targeting