A New Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CADs) have long been considered the domain of the elderly. However, the prevalence of modifiable risk factors has led to their increased diagnosis in younger people. Conventional treatment methods offer a wide range of drugs with different mechanisms of action, but their use brings only limited benefits. Often occurring, persistent adverse effects encourage the abandonment of regular drug administration and thus prevent effective therapy. Methods are sought that allow for targeted, more precise drug delivery that would eliminate their systemic and toxic effects. Therefore, one of the areas of particular interest in the field of cardiovascular diseases is the topic of drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology. We reviewed articles in the PubMed database focused on the latest reports of the use of nanotechnology in the treatment of CADs. Results: Nanoparticles (NCs) bring about many benefits compared to conventional preparations, which results from the possibility of carrying a larger amount of functional cargo and directing the therapy to individual cellular targets, as well as increasing the bioavailability of the transported drug. The introduction of NC to CAD treatment may allow for more effective therapy, but most importantly, it provides an opportunity for faster and more accurate diagnosis of developing disorders at a stage when they do not yet produce symptoms. Nanotechnology, thanks to the enormous variety of designed structures and functions, shows exceptional potential in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, its widespread implementation in clinical practice is a significant challenge. Further research is necessary to provide reliable data on the pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and long-term safety of nanocarriers. The development of industrial methods for the production of nanocarriers with controlled and repeatable physicochemical properties while maintaining economic profitability remains a key challenge. Fulfilling these conditions is necessary for introducing nanotechnology as a standard method in modern cardiovascular medicine.