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Cardiovascular disease is considered one of the leading causes of death worldwide, as inflammation in the arteries leads to plaque build-up, which can lead to fatal heart attacks.
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In this regard, researchers from Michigan State University have developed a new nanotherapy, based on the use of nanoinjections that target specific areas of inflammation within the arteries.
This injection stimulates the immune system to break down and remove plaque build-up, which reduces the severity of inflammation and helps prevent serious complications such as heart attacks.
The research team explained that there are two types of plaque build-up in the arteries: The first type almost completely blocks the artery which can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, or dizziness, and is treatable by installing stents. to improve blood flow. The second type, which is the most dangerous, is characterized by intense inflammation that can lead to the plaque rupturing suddenly, which could cause a severe heart attack.
The new nanotherapy targets this type of inflammatory and dangerous plaque.
Brian Smith, an associate professor in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University, said that these inflamed plaques are the most dangerous because they do not always block the artery, but their sudden rupture can suddenly stop blood flow, make the heart attack appear as if it happened without warning.
The treatment is designed using tiny nanoparticles, thinner than a human hair, which precisely target immune cells within the plaque. When the particles reach these cells, they are activated, which dismantles the plaque from the inside and reduces the associated inflammation.
This process effectively helps to reduce the size of the plaques and prevent the development of related complications.
The treatment was tested on pigs, where it was effective in reducing inflammation levels within plaques without causing serious side effects. Imaging tests, such as positron emission tomography, also showed that the treatment was able to effectively reduce inflammation, as well as molecular tests that confirmed the success of the operation.
Smith pointed out that previous experiments on mice also showed positive results, and with this research advance, the scope of the treatment has been expanded to be effective in larger animals such as pigs.
Researchers have also been able to produce large amounts of nanotherapy for use in future experiments and possibly for human treatment. These results are considered a step towards making this treatment available to patients suffering from arterial inflammation.
The promising results were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Source: Fascinating engineering