Nanotechnology Research Support at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

The application of nanotechnology to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease is expected to increase rapidly in coming years. Nanoparticle-based molecular imaging agents targeted to specific disease targets such as cell surface markers, enzymes, or cells such as macrophages will expand our capacity to diagnose disease and to monitor therapy. Nanotechnology offers a number of opportunities for improving drug delivery, including sustained delivery from degradable nanomaterials, improved pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, and targeted delivery to improve effective concentration at the disease site and reduced systemic effects. Sustained delivery of cytokines and growth factors will also play an important role in enhancing regenerative medicine, along with the provision of biomimetic scaffolds that can help to guide growth and proliferation of stem and progenitor cells. The availability of nanotechnology-based multiplexed point of care diagnostics will contribute to personalized medicine, allowin optimized care for the individual patient. The NHLBI's flagship Programs of Excellence in Nanotechnology is expected to accelerate the translation of these promising technologies toward clinical application. In addition, the NHLBI's robust portfolio of funding through other FOAs and investigator-initiated applications, including small business grants, will continue to make important contributions to basic discovery and translation. © 2011 American Heart Association, Inc.