Researchers from ITMO Universitet in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Macedonia have collaborated on the development of a way of entrapping enzymes within microparticles of magnetite. These can then be dragged by a magnet to gather within a treatment site, whether blood clot to dissolve it or a cancer to kill it.
This has been tried before, but previous attempts resorted to additional materials being used to attach enzymes to magnetic particles. These led to limitations in administration and a weaker pull on the particles.
Some details from ITMO:
What makes the difference with the new material is that particles of magnetite with entrapped enzymes are extremely resistant to sedimentation in water. This was made possible thanks to a new method of magnetic hydrosols synthesis devised by ITMO University researchers.
Thus, the resulting system stabilizes itself without any need for additional stabilizers that may attenuate its magnetic properties, reduce the enzymatic activity and increase potential toxic effect for humans. The nanocomposite is absolutely biocompatible and harmless for injection into the human body.
“Separately, both magnetite and therapeutic enzymes have medical approval for intravenous Injection. Therefore, to approve their joint use should not be difficult. The body already knows what to do with these substances and how to incorporate them into the process of metabolism,” adds Andrey Drozdov.
Study in journal Chemistry of Materials: Entrapment of Enzymes within Sol–Gel-Derived Magnetite…
Via: ITMO University…