Application of platelet and its membrane biomimetics in atherosclerosis

Platelets play an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Activated platelets adhere and aggregate to the injured endothelium, releasing a variety of inflammatory mediators to participate in the formation of AS. The aggregation will be amplified to form fatal thrombosis after plaque rupture, resulting in myocardial infarction. Therefore, the characteristic of activated platelets aggregating at injured blood vessels can be applied to drug delivery systems. Platelets simply as drug carriers or using the exclusive surface proteins combined with nanomaterials to deliver drugs to specific sites are of great value in the treatment of AS. This review summarizes the current situation of platelet and its membrane biomimetics and its application prospect in AS.