Nanotechnology bawsed plaque fighting therapy

The article called, Endothelial alpha-v-beta-3 Integrin-Targeted Fumagillin Nanoparticles Inhibit Angiogenesis in Atherosclerosis, describes a nano-technology based plaque-fighting therapy that opens a new field to heal cardiovascular and atherosclerotic diseases. In this new technique, the researchers actually combined the molecular imagining technique and the drug delivery with nanoparticles. Researchers successfully reduced angiogenesis by a great amount (about 60~80%), and at the same time they were able to monitor the condition of the patient by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technique. This is significant development that cut down the amount of drug needed and the side effects followed by overdosing. For instance, the over use of fumagillin, an antibiotic that is often used to block blood vessel formation, can cause neurocognitive side effects. With this newly developed technique, people will be able use those substances that are toxic at high concentration safely since it now needs only very small amount.

Whole article:

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/63/18/5838

(Simplified version of the original article:)

http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/9/2103