Cardiovascular Nanomedicine: Challenges and Opportunities

Nanomedicine is a multidisciplinary field that integrates concepts of nanotechnology and medicine. More specifically, nanomedicine covers development of nanovectors, nanostructure surfaces, nanomaterials and nanoelectronics for improving diagnosis, therapy and monitoring of disease as well as tissue regeneration. This chapter begins with a brief historical overview of the field of nanomedicine, and introduces the concepts of nanomedicine with a specific focus on potential benefits for detection and management of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs). We review nanomaterials for molecular and magnetic resonance imaging aimed at detecting CVD as early as possible, with the goal of ultimately imaging disease at the level of a single cell. Molecularly targeted therapeutic nanovectors developed to provide localized and more efficient therapies with fewer side effects are discussed. Lastly, we examine how medical devices based on nanomaterials and nanoscale technologies are being developed for identification of new and precise quantification of known disease biomarkers for early diagnosis of CVD such as myocardial infarction and vulnerable plaque. Though cardiovascular nanomedicine is still in its infancy, there is a great hope that new innovations in imaging, biomaterials, tissue-targeted nanovectors, biosensors, and personalized therapies can offer physicians new avenues to improve patient care.