The research team developed a new technology combining nanogold and peptides that can restore both heart function and electrical conductivity
Could a spritz of super-tiny particles of gold and peptides on a damaged heart potentially provide minimally invasive, on-the-spot repair?
Cutting-edge research led by University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Associate Professors Dr. Emilio Alarcon and Dr. Erik Suuronen suggests a spray-on technology using customized nanoparticles of one of the world’s most precious metals offers tremendous therapeutic potential and could eventually help save many lives. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, claiming roughly 18 million lives each year.
In a paper recently published online in ACS Nano, a peer-reviewed journal that highlighted the new research on its supplementary cover, Dr. Alarcon and his team of fellow investigators suggest that this approach might one day be used in conjunction with coronary artery bypass surgeries. That’s the most common type of heart surgery.
The therapy tested by the researchers – which was sprayed on the hearts of lab mice – used very low concentrations of peptide-modified particles of gold created in the laboratory. From the nozzle of a miniaturized spraying apparatus, the material can be evenly painted on the surface of a heart within a few seconds.
Gold nanoparticles have been shown to have some unusual properties and are highly chemically reactive. For years, researchers have been employing gold nanoparticles – so tiny they are undetectable by the human eye – in such a wide range of technologies that it’s become an area of intense research interest.
In this case, the custom-made nanogold modified with peptides—a short chain of amino acids —was sprayed on the hearts of lab mice. The research found that the spray-on therapy not only resulted in an increase in cardiac function and heart electrical conductivity but that there was no off-target organ infiltration by the tiny gold particles.
“That’s the beauty of this approach. You spray, then you wait a couple of weeks, and the animals are doing just fine compared to the controls,” says Dr. Alarcon, who is part of the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology and also Director of the Bio-nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering Laboratory at the University of the Ottawa Heart Institute.
Dr. Alarcon says that not only does the data suggest that the therapeutic action of the spray-on nanotherapeutic is highly effective, but its application is far simpler than other regenerative approaches for treating an infarcted heart.
At first, the observed improvement of cardiac function and electrical signal propagation in the hearts of tested mice was hard for the team to believe. But repeated experiments delivered the same positive results, according to Dr. Alarcon, who is part of the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Bio-nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering Laboratory at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
To validate the exciting findings in mice, the team is now seeking to adapt this technology to minimally invasive procedures that will expedite testing in large animal models, such as rabbits and pigs.
Dr. Alarcon praised the research culture at uOttawa and the Heart Institute, saying that the freedom to explore is paramount. “When you have an environment where you are allowed to make mistakes and criticize, that really drives discoveries,” he says.
Original Article: Spray of tiny particles of gold can potentially treat heart disease, University of Ottawa research suggests
More from: University of Ottawa | University of Talca
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Heart repair
- KPRC 2 Investigates: Car stolen while at repair shop. Who is responsible?
Last year in Houston alone thieves stole about 55 vehicles a day. That’s more than two every hour. It’s why we use car alarms, lock our doors and do our best to protect our property. And when you ...
- Capstan Medical’s cardiac surgical robotics mission: ‘Not for the faint of heart’
Capstan Medical CEO Maggie Nixon says the surgical robotics developer is "driving hard" toward its first-in-human mitral valve replacement.
- How to Avoid Open-Heart Surgery if You Have Leaky Tricuspid Valve
The EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement system is a device designed to treat patients with severe leaking of the tricuspid valve, known as tricuspid regurgitation, without open heart surgery. The ...
- Biomarker found to help identify cells that can repair damaged blood vessels
Researchers have discovered a protein marker to help identify cells able to repopulate in patients with damaged blood vessels. Their findings, recently published in Circulation, could lead to new ...
- New transcatheter heart valve shows promise in treating aortic stenosis
Recent findings from a study on a transcatheter heart valve (THV) system, which includes a new class of transcatheter aortic valve, showed positive results in the device's ability to function as a ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Heart repair
[google_news title=”” keyword=”heart repair” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Spray-on nanotherapeutic
- This Non-Toxic Spray Finally Solved My Rodent Problem
Want to get rid of mice for good? This all-natural spray worked shockingly well for me, and it won't harm mice or pets.
- Is Nasal Spray Addictive?
The sprays to watch out for are the ones categorized as nasal decongestants, which contain active ingredients like oxymetazoline (Afrin, Sinex) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine), Dr. McCoul said.
- The Best Paint Sprayers for Your Paint Jobs, Tested
The sprayer’s 1.5-quart capacity hopper and two-stage turbine enable you to spray virtually any finish, be it as viscous as latex paint or as thin as wood stain. With a simple twist of the air ...
- My Makeup Is Rain-Proof Thanks to Beyoncé’s Favorite Setting Spray
Thankfully, as an avid user of social media, I came across a viral setting spray that I just had to get my hands on and it's my new secret weapon for surviving the heat. Introducing the One/Size ...
- Festival Glam: Tems Used This Bestselling Setting Spray for Her Coachella Debut – Shop It Here
Looking for a setting spray that goes the distance? Whether you plan to brave Coachella’s desert temperatures or another outdoor music festival, Tems might have perfected a setting-spray ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Spray-on nanotherapeutic
[google_news title=”” keyword=”spray on nanotherapeutic” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]