Tag Archives: SPIO

Using nanoparticles to prevent ruptures (heart attacks and/or strokes) in artery walls

This technique from Temple University (Pennsylania, US)  is a long way from ready for general use but it certainly looks promising. From an Oct. 4, 2013 news item on Azonano,

Omar Z. Fisher, assistant professor of bioengineering in Temple’s College of Engineering, has developed a method for linking polyphenols, which are very strong antioxidants, to polymers that can self-assemble into nanoparticles.

Fisher said the project will focus on using these polymers to encapsulate superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs), a nano-scale MRI contrasting agent used by his collaborator, Amber Doiron, assistant professor of bioengineering at Binghamton University.

The Oct. 2, 2013 Temple University news release by Preston Moretz, which originated the news item, describes how the nanoparticles will act in the body,

The antioxidant nanoparticles containing the contrasting agent would travel through the blood vessels until they reach atherosclerotic plaque, enabling doctors to diagnose the severity of plaques before they rupture, said Fisher.

“The worse the plaque is, the more likely it is to rupture and give you a clot,” he said. “Because these polymers are made from antioxidants, they are sensitive to oxidative stress, which is more prevalent in more severe plaques.”

Once the oxidative stress destroys the polymers, the MRI contrast agents will be released inside the plaques.

Fisher said doctors would likely prescribe an MRI when a patient was showing some signs of cardiac distress such as fatigue or chest pains.

“During the MRI, the degree of contrast would be visible and indicate to doctors not only that the plaques were there, but the severity of the plaques and how likely they would be to rupture,” he said.

No mention was made of a published paper in either the news item or the news release.