Abstract <p>Atherosclerosis, a highly common cardiovascular disease (CVD) condition, continues to remain among the foremost reasons for death and morbidity in the world. Due to different therapeutic measures at hand, complete reversal of the progression of atherosclerosis continues to remain a humongous challenge. In recent times, there has been growing interest in nano-drug delivery systems (NDDSs) as extremely promising platforms to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of the treatment of atherosclerosis. Coating of sophisticated coatings on NDDSs is advantageous in various aspects, including increased drug stability, protection of drugs from degradation, controlled and sustained release of drugs, and enhanced site-specific targeting. Coatings also enable the conjugation of targeting ligands for the delivery of drugs specifically to atherosclerotic lesions and hence achieving maximal therapeutic efficacy. The review here is a detailed discussion of recent coating methods in NDDSs for targeted delivery of anti-atherosclerotic drugs. Furthermore, it describes the mechanisms of these coating approaches, outlining their potential to revolutionize atherosclerosis treatment. Additionally, the review critically addresses the current challenges and future opportunities regarding the development and clinical translation of these new nanoplatforms.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>