Harnessing fluorescent probes for molecular diagnosis and theranostics of atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, posing a serious threat to human health. Atherosclerosis (AS), the pathological basis of most cardiovascular diseases, is characterized by arterial wall thickening caused by chronic inflammation. In recent years, molecular probes have attracted much attention as versatile tools for the diagnosis and treatment of AS, offering capabilities in imaging, drug monitoring, and surgical navigation. The existing probes include fluorescent probes, SERS probes, nuclear medicine probes, self-assembled nanoprobes, UC-FRET probes, photothermal probes, and multimodal probes. Among them, fluorescent probes have emerged as a research focus because of their excellent targeting effect, biocompatibility, and multimodal compatibility. This review summarizes recent advances in the classification and synthesis of fluorescent probes, their targeted applications in AS, and their auxiliary diagnosis and treatment of AS. By highlighting current progress and key challenges, this work aims to provide valuable insights to support further development and facilitate the advancement of fluorescent probe technologies in the context of AS, while promoting the clinical application of fluorescent probes.