Engineering molecular nanoprobes to target early atherosclerosis: Precise diagnostic tools and promising therapeutic carriers

Figures

• 

  Figure 1. Single-modality imaging nanoprobes for early detection and prevention of atherosclerotic plaques. Depicted are four common types of single-modality imaging nanoprobes applied in atherosclerosis research, including optical imaging nanoprobes, photoacoustic imaging nanoprobes, magnetic resonance imaging nanoprobes, and positron emission tomography imaging nanoprobes. Representative nanoprobes in each category are listed in detail here according to current studies.

• 

  Figure 2. Optical and photoacoustic-based dual-modality imaging nanoprobes for early detection and prevention of plaques. Described are three reported types of optical and photoacoustic-based dual-modality imaging nanoprobes applied in current atherosclerotic studies, mainly including optical/MR imaging nanoprobes, optical/ultrasound imaging nanoprobes, and photoacoustic/ ultrasound imaging nanoprobes. Specific molecular targets and biological processes are displayed.