The recipe for a heart attack: stuff stem cells with magnetic nanoparticles...
Magnetic nanoparticles direct stem cells to damaged tissueScientists from University College London have shown that microscopic magnetic particles can be used to direct transplanted stem cells to the site of damage to blood vessels and heart tissue.
This will allow achieving greater efficiency of cell therapy.
Researchers have developed a technology by which microscopic iron-containing particles were introduced into the endothelial progenitor cells necessary for the restoration of blood vessels. With the help of directed magnetic action on these particles, it was possible to achieve the movement of cells to the site of arterial damage.
The blue color in the image indicates the cell nucleus, green — cytoplasm, red - magnetic nanoparticles.
In animal experiments, by directing cells with magnets, scientists were able to achieve 5 times greater concentration of stem cells at the site of the lesion than in the control, when cells without magnetic nanoparticles were transplanted. In in vitro experiments, six times more cells were directed to the right place with the help of magnets.
The growing interest in "magnetized" stem cells (see, for example, the note Precise delivery of stem cells: magnetic nanoparticles and injection into a vein) is explained both by the good results of using this technique and by the fact that the material from which the magnetic particles are made has already been approved by the FDA for tracking cells using MRI. The authors hope that their proposed method will be approved for clinical trials in the next 3-5 years. If these trials are successful, regular injections of "magnetic" stem cells can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the technology can be adapted to treat diseases of other organs. This method is not organic by cells — with the help of magnetic particles, it will be possible, for example, to direct special antibodies or viruses to cancerous tumors.
Source: ScienceDaily, Nanomagnets Guide Stem Cells To Damaged TissuePortal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to the materials Stemcells.Ru
27.10.2009