Table 3 Summary of the experimental analysis and research output for models of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis

Plaque visualization

Noninvasive nanoprobe (OPN Ab/Ti3C2/ICG)

Distinguishing vulnerable plaques and achieving noninvasive specific in vivo imaging

[221]

Peroxynitrite (ONOO) activatable probe (CNP2-B)

High selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio imaging

[222]

Intravascular fluorescence lifetime

Biochemical changes

[223]

Fluorescent-colorimetric probe (Pro-P1)

Simultaneously, used for visualizing lipoprotein oxidation and plaque imaging

[224]

Lipid-activatable fluorescent probe (CN-N2)

Intraoperative imaging

[225]

Adipo-clear (three-dimensional imaging)

Morphology (volume, geometry, acellular component, surface, and spatial position within the BCA)

[226]

Plaque quantification

Intravascular fluorescence lifetime

Biochemical changes

[223]

3-Dimensional volumetric ultrasound

Volume

[227]

Plaque cellular composition

High-resolution multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Principal compositions of coronary arteries (tunica media, tunica adventitia, elastic laminas, smooth muscle cell-enriched fibrous plaque, lipid-rich core, and foamy macrophages)

[237]

Miller elastin/Van Gieson staining, Picrosirius red staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining

Elastin, fibrillar collagen, necrotic core

[238]

BODIPY, ORO staining, immunofluorescent analysis, flow cytometry

VSMC-derived foam cell formation

[239]

Immunofluorescence staining, oil red O staining

Vascular smooth muscle cell c-Fos, foam cell

[240]

Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), oil red O staining

Macrophages, nuclear factors, vascular cells

[228]

Cell-specific markers or transcriptomes

Single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell ATAC sequencing

Transcriptomic and epigenomic characteristics

[229]

Single-cell RNA sequencing

Gene expression of bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages

[230]

Single-cell RNA sequencing

A novel cell state during smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching

[234]

Flow cytometry

Plaque- and immunological phenotyping

[231]

Immunohistochemistry, proximity extension assays, and Helios cytometry by time of flight

Major macrophage associated genes and transcription factors

[235]

Endothelial dysfunction

Vessel myography

Endothelium-dependent function, endothelium-independent function

[236]