Metal Nanoparticles in Atherosclerosis: Applications and Potential Toxicity

As a chronic inflammatory disease, atherosclerosis is responsible for thousands of deaths worldwideeach year, and it imposes massive economic costs on individuals and on society. Because of its highimportance, the discovery of sensitive and accurate strategies for imaging, targeted drug delivery,and therapeutic monitoring of this condition is essential. In recent years, continuous research hasachieved remarkable successes in the use of nanotechnology in the molecular imaging and treatmentof atherosclerosis. Among various nanoparticles — such as metallic, polymeric, and lipid — metallicnanoparticles are being considered due to their unique properties for use in treatment and imaging. Itshould be taken into consideration that some of the metal nanoparticles themselves can cause adversebiological effects, and these effects should be considered important risk factors in the pathologicalpathways leading up to atherosclerosis. This review provides a description of the applications andpotential toxicity of metal nanoparticles in atherosclerosis.