Nanocarrier Based Targeting of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 for Diagnosis and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: Current Status and Future Perspectives

To further minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease, nanotechnology may help us better understand the mechanism of atherosclerosis and contribute to the development of innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches. Therefore, inflammatory indicators have been popular in recent years as potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets. Inflammation contributes to the initiation and progression of several diseases globally. Adhesion molecules expressed by leukocytes and endotheliocytes cause the immune cells infiltration to inflamed area. These molecules serve as mediators for tethering, firm adhesion, rolling, and diapedesis processes. VCAM-1, an adhesion molecule with low intrinsic expression and easy access on the endothelium, has been investigated as a potential target. It also plays a critical role in the early stages of the development of several pathologies, including, but not limited to, atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s diseases, and cancer. A therapeutic or diagnostic tool that specifically targets this protein would thus enable accurate identification. The development of numerous targeted technologies with potential applications for drug delivery and imaging of VCAM-1 over-expressing diseases has recently been encouraged by the emergence of monoclonal antibodies against VCAM-1. In this review article, we first discuss the origin, structure, and function of antibodies, followed by a summary of the VCAM-1 targeted nanosystems, including siRNA targeting carriers, for the therapy and diagnosis of various inflammatory-related pathologies. Finally, to promote the clinical nanomedicine application for the treatment of atherosclerosis, we suggest prospects for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and provide solutions to challenges in this field.