Researchers from ITMO University in St. Petersburg, Russia have developed magnetic nanoparticles to control internal bleeding, which can be localized at a bleeding site in the body using external magnetic fields.
Internal bleeding is a medical emergency, and researchers are working to develop more effective therapies that are targeted at the bleeding site and that can be delivered using an injection. The Russian group turned to nanotechnology to develop a targeted clotting agent, creating nanoparticles containing the pro-coagulant enzyme thrombin, which is packaged in a porous magnetite matrix.
Following an intravenous injection of the nanoparticles, the researchers can achieve precise control of particle movement and aggregation in the body using external magnetic fields. This allows the researchers to target bleeding sites without causing clotting elsewhere, which can be dangerous.
When evenly distributed in the blood vessels, the nanoparticles have minimal clotting activity. However, once they have localized the nanoparticles at a site of bleeding, the researchers administer fibrinogen to the patient, which thrombin in the particles acts on to create a blood clot.
The research team has tested the clotting activity of the nanoparticles using a specially designed rig, and showed that the treatment can significantly reduce bleeding. “We tested the nanoparticles’ efficiency on human blood plasma samples and a special vessel model,” said Andrey Drozdov, a researcher involved in the study. “We were able to observe how nanoparticles behave when the vessel is damaged. Nanoparticles reduce the clotting time by 6.5 times and can reduce total blood loss by 15 times [Sic].”
So far, the scientists have checked the biocompatibility of the treatment in human cells. “We checked the toxicity of our particles with human cells and made sure they are completely safe even during prolonged exposure,” said Vladimir Vinogradov, another researcher involved in the study. The team plans to test the technique in animals, and if it is successful, in a clinical trial.
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Via: ITMO…
