Extensive translational research has provided considerable progress regarding the understanding of atherosclerosis pathophysiology over the last decades. atherosclerosis remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1]. Cardiovascular atherosclerosis most often manifests as coronary artery disease (CAD) resulting in stable angina pectoris, severe coronary symptoms and unexpected cardiac death; the next most frequent area of manifestation is certainly cerebrovascular disease resulting in transitory ischemic strike (TIA) and stroke; peripheral artery disease (PAD) represents another area of scientific manifestations resulting in limb and visceral ischemia with increasing prevalence during the last years [2]. Acute coronary arterial thrombosis provides been proven to occur from specific morphological entities, which all total bring about thrombotic occlusion from the affected epicardial vessel resulting in severe myocardial ischemia [3]. While plaque rupture continues to be defined as the most typical root pathological substrate of coronary arterial thrombosis accounting for about two thirds of severe coronary occasions, plaque erosion has been named a common reason behind arterial thrombosis with increasing prevalence specifically in younger sufferers. Calcified nodule and severe plaque fissure are much less regular morphological correlates of severe coronary arterial thrombosis, where etiological factors and pathophysiology continues to be unclear [4] still. Success of sufferers presenting with severe myocardial infarction provides improved because the introduction of percutaneous coronary involvement (PCI) drastically. On the other hand, coronary angiography and PCI of angiographically serious stenosis in steady disease remain failing to confirm equally with the capacity of reducing mortality, since stenosis intensity as evaluated by angiography by itself allows only not a lot of understanding into underling pathophysiological procedures and therefore will not reliably anticipate the average person risk for development to future undesirable events. Being among the most determined risk elements of susceptible plaque rupture are: elevated lipid articles ( 40%), reduced collagen quite happy with a thinned fibrous cover, and elevated inflammatory cell infiltrate (abundant macrophages also to a lesser level T- cell lymphocytes) [5]. Due to the disparity of possibly disastrous consequences of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events on the one hand, and the lack of established diagnostic tools to differentiate underlying pathologies of stable cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease around the other, the identification of such vulnerable plaques represents an important clinical need. The currently available imaging modalities in clinical practice such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) are capable of delineating certain features of vascular anatomy. Nevertheless, these modalities do not routinely provide information regarding the underlying pathophysiological processes implicated in disease development and its complications. Whereas other disciplines SB 203580 novel inhibtior can rely on biopsies when medical imaging reaches its limits, detailed assessment of pathophysiological processes of cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease at a biochemical, cellular or molecular level, relies on further refinement of the above-mentioned imaging techniques. Along these lines, molecular SB 203580 novel inhibtior imaging offers both researchers and clinicians the chance to visualize anatomical and functional information within living cells, tissues and intact subjects [6]. The following review aims to provide a brief overview of basic principles and preclinical research approaches exploring different potential S100A4 targets and specifically designed nanoparticles in the context of functional imaging of atherosclerosis, as well as an outlook on clinical applications. Considering the abundance of useful preclinical research regarding this topic, focus was placed on studies that demonstrate proximity to clinical translation. 2. Basic Principles of Nanotechnology Nanoparticles refer to particles that have one or more dimensions of 100 nm or less. Owing to the initial properties conferred by their size, functionalization skills and modular framework, biomedical nanoparticles have already been exploited and found in the field of medical imaging continuously. They serve as comparison agencies for molecular imaging modalities plus some are medically utilized as diagnostics aswell as delivery automobiles for pharmacotherapeutics, getting known as SB 203580 novel inhibtior theranostics [7] consequently. Perhaps one of the most applied sets of frequently.