Exactly in a blood clot: nanoparticles with plasminogen activator

Nanoparticles will increase the effectiveness of the fight against blood clotsAndrey Velichko, Computer

The nanocoating developed by Japanese researchers will force the blood-thinning drug to act exclusively against a blood clot, without causing internal bleeding.

A group of specialists from the Nara Medical University, led by Saito Yoshihiko, proposed to wrap the drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) in a shell of gelatin-based nanoparticles. This drug is gradually going out of use, because, leading to increased bleeding, which helps to destroy the blood clot, is fraught with internal bleeding.

In developed countries, tPA is usually used in remote areas when there are no other ways to eliminate vascular blockage, or for emergency care (for example, when an artery supplying the brain is blocked).

Experiments by Japanese scientists on animals have shown that the nano-shell reliably holds the medicine inside, and when the "ball" is attached to a blood clot, it can be destroyed by ultrasonic waves and release tPA directly into the blood clot.

Initially, experiments were conducted with mice, during which it was found that the effectiveness of tPA with a protective coating was three times higher than usual. In subsequent trials with 30 pigs that were artificially injected with blood clots, the result was also promising. The drug without a shell caused an improvement in vascular patency in only 10% of experimental animals, whereas with nanocoating, the effectiveness was 90%, and the amount of "lagging" medication that did not get to the blood clot significantly decreased.

The presentation of the technology took place at the Scientific Sessions 2011 conference of the American Heart Association (AHA), which is taking place these days in Orlando.

Prepared based on the materials of ScienceNews: Busting blood cloths with a nanoparticle.

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16.11.2011