Nanoparticles beat back atherosclerosis

Scientists are designing tiny “missiles” to find and destroy waxy plaques in blood vessels

illustrations of nanoparticles

NANO VARIETY Nanoparticles can repair blood vessel damage, break up plaques, stop immune molecules from overreacting and even respond to the pressure of plaque-narrowed vessels in animal studies. 

Nicolle Rager Fuller

Careening through the bloodstream, a single nanoparticle is dwarfed by red blood cells whizzing by that are 100 times larger.