Progress and Perspective of Atherosclerosis-Targeted Molecular Probes: From Precise Imaging to Auxiliary Diagnosis and Treatment

Atherosclerosis (AS) poses a significant threat to human life and health, with its pathophysiological processes involving a myriad of complex biological events that ultimately lead to various clinical complications, such as coronary heart disease and stroke. In the light of severity of AS, the precise identification, prevention, and treatment of AS have become exceptionally crucial. In recent years, molecular probe optical imaging has garnered widespread attention due to it allows for the detection of subtle changes in the concentration of biological targets at disease sites through optical signal detection, offering hope for non-invasive detection and imaging of AS. In this review, we first describe the mechanism of AS formation and discuss the design strategies of molecular optical probes. Moreover, we comprehensively summarize the progress of molecular probes in imaging, diagnosing and treating AS. Finally, we emphasize some challenges and prospects in the field of AS, especially in coronary heart disease.