Nanosphere Drug-Delivery System Limits Cardiac Damage

Aug-11-18 A nanosphere-based drug delivery system could offer rapid response to heart attacks without the need for surgery.

Developed by research teams from North Carolina, the system relies on hydrogel nanospheres containing a drug/protein called Y-27632. That drug is surrounded by a layer of tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), with the entire sphere coated in proteins that will bind to fibrin—the main substance in blood clots. When injected into the bloodstream, the nanospheres will travel to the site of the clot, where they will attach and trigger the tPA to release, dissolving the clot. Once the clot is gone, the Y-27632 reduces possible damage to the area by limiting cell rigidity that contributes to scarring.

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[GLOBALSPEC.COM]
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