Nanotechnology applications for cardiovascular disease treatment: Current and future perspectives.

A large majority of cardiovascular nanomedicine research has focused on fabricating designer nanoparticles for improved targeting as a means to overcome biological barriers. For cardiac related disorders, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction, designer micro or nanoparticles are often administered into the vasculature or targeted vessel with the hope to circumvent problems associated with conventional drug delivery, including negative systemic side effects. Additionally, novel nano-drug carriers that enter circulation can be selectively uptaken by immune cells with the intended purpose that they modulate inflammatory processes and migrate locally to plaque for therapeutic payload delivery. Indeed, innovative design in nanoparticle composition, formulation, and functionalization has advanced the field as a means to achieve therapeutic efficacy for a variety of cardiac disease indications. This perspective aims to discuss these advances and provide new interpretations of how nanotechnology can be best applied to aid in cardiovascular disease treatment. In an effort to spark discussions on where the field of research should go, we share our outlook in new areas of nanotechnological inclusion and integration, such as in vascular, implantable, or wearable device technologies as well as nanocomposites and nanocoatings. Further, as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increasingly claim a number of lives globally, we propose more attention should be placed by researchers on nanotechnological approaches for risk factor treatment to aid in early prevention and treatment of CVD.

Technologies for intrapericardial delivery of therapeutics and cells.

The pericardium, which surrounds the heart, provides a unique enclosed volume and a site for the delivery of agents to the heart and coronary arteries. While strategies for targeting the delivery of therapeutics to the heart are lacking, various technologies and nanodelivery approaches are emerging as promising methods for site specific delivery to increase therapeutic myocardial retention, efficacy, and bioactivity, while decreasing undesired systemic effects. Here, we provide a literature review of various approaches for intrapericardial delivery of agents. Emphasis is given to sustained delivery approaches (pumps and catheters) and localized release (patches, drug eluting stents, and support devices and meshes). Further, minimally invasive access techniques, pericardial access devices, pericardial washout and fluid analysis, as well as therapeutic and cell delivery vehicles are presented. Finally, several promising new therapeutic targets to treat heart diseases are highlighted.