Nanoparticles for Cardiovascular Imaging with CT

Complications involved with the progression of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries are responsible for the majority of deaths related to cardiovascular disease. Clinically, X-ray computed tomography (CT) plays a key role in the assessment of atherosclerosis but current iodinated contrast agents relied upon for CT applications suffer from fast clearance, biocompatibility issues, and nonspecific uptake. Nanotechnologies have presented solutions to these problems by offering precise control over the properties of novel contrast agents. In this chapter, we discuss nanoparticle CT contrast agents that have been used for cardiovascular imaging. We cover iodinated and inorganic nanoparticle structures including nano-emulsions, liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, solid metal core nanoparticles, and others and discuss their applications for vascular and target specific imaging. Tremendous progress has been made in the field over the past decade and we expect that the next decade will see the clinical translation of nanoparticle formulations among many additional technological advances.