Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), predominant global disabilities, are solely
responsible for causing a significant number of deaths annually. The arising issues of
conventional therapeutics, such as high insufficiency in reducing disease progression,
unpleasant side effects, etc., have made CVDs a significant clinical challenge.
Henceforth, the exploration of newer technologies and strategies for CVD management
has become a need of present times. Recently, CVDs have become a major area of
focus for medical, scientific and technological development. One such area of
particular interest is an advancement of nanoparticle drug delivery systems for
targeting CVDs, which offers a bouquet of positive attributes such as a high - targeted
approach for specific disease sites, drug bioavailability and functional payloads. The
present article mainly emphasis on the growing concept of ‘theranostic nanoparticles or
nanotheranostics’ in the field of CVDs. The term ‘Theranostic’ combinedly refers to
the union of diagnostics and therapeutics, with the purpose of enhancing the safety and
efficacy of the treatment. Although it is still in its infancy stage for cardiovascular
complications, the idea of theranostics has already been applied in the field of oncology
and is giving fruitful results as well. The present chapter gives its description in the
field of diagnosis as well as therapeutics, which may improve the status of nanomedical
research in CVDs.
Keywords: Drug delivery, Nanomedicine, Nanoparticles, Nanotheranostics,
Theranostics.