Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Researchers develop drug-loaded nanocapsules that hijack the body’s clotting agents and then self-destruct

Home > Press > Researchers develop drug-loaded nanocapsules that hijack the body’s clotting agents and then self-destruct

Abstract:
Australian researchers funded by the National Heart Foundation are a step closer to a safer and more effective way to treat heart attack and stroke via nanotechnology.

Researchers develop drug-loaded nanocapsules that hijack the body’s clotting agents and then self-destruct

Melbourne, Australia | Posted on August 6th, 2015

The research jointly lead by Professor Christoph Hagemeyer, Head of the Vascular Biotechnology Laboratory at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Professor Frank Caruso, an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Melbourne was published today in the leading journal Advanced Materials.

Professor Hagemeyer said this latest step offers a vast difference between the current treatments for blood clots and what might be possible in the future.

'We’ve created a nanocapsule that contains a clot-busting drug. The drug loaded nanocapsule is coated with an antibody that specifically targets activated platelets, the cells that form blood clots,' Prof Hagemeyer said.

'Once located at the site of the blood clot, thrombin (a molecule at the centre of the clotting process) breaks open the outer layer of the nanocapsule, releasing the clot-busting drug. We are effectively hijacking the blood clotting system to initiate the removal of the blockage in the blood vessel.'

'This targeted drug can potentially offer a safer alternative with fewer side effects for people suffering a heart attack or stroke. This life saving treatment could be administered by paramedics in emergency situations without the need for specialised equipment as is currently the case,' he said.

National Heart Foundation CEO Mary Barry said the organisation had a proud history of funding researchers who develop ground-breaking treatments to help many of the 55,000 Australians every year who have a heart attack and suffer a stroke.

'About half of the people who need a clot-busting drug can’t use the current treatments because the risk of serious bleeding is too high. Bringing ground-breaking nanotechnology into cardiovascular research could make life saving treatment possible for thousands of people,' Ms Barry said.

'We know heart attacks are Australia’s number one killer. I’m proud that Heart Foundation is funding Prof Hagemeyer’s work, knowing that these sorts of developments will without a doubt help save lives,' Ms Barry said.

Funding: This research was funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC).
Prof Hagemeyer is also half way through a four-year Heart Foundation Research Fellowship to support his work.

Funding: This research was funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC).
Prof Hagemeyer is also half way through a four-year Heart Foundation Research Fellowship to support his work.

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
PO Box 6492, Melbourne
Victoria 3004, Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)3 8532 1111
Facsimile: +61 (0)3 8532 1100

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark: