Stanford University has recently announced a significant new advance in the application of medical engineering. Washington State University graduate student Ande Marini and his research team have successfully developed microscopic magnetic particles. These particles enhance drug delivery systems such as those which act specifically against abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Untreated, this debilitating condition can lead to almost 10,000 deaths annually. Those results appeared this past spring in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
As a postdoctoral scholar in cardiothoracic surgery, Marini directed the project. Specifically, it seeks to address the difficulties of getting drug straight to difficult-to-access disease locations in the human body. This new technique employs microscopic magnetic particles roughly one-hundred-thousandth the width of a human hair. This unique size enables accurate targeting and creates the opportunity for more effective and innovative treatment.
Collaborative Efforts and Research Team
The realization of these functional magnetic particles, which self-organize under ingenious circumstances, was a successful product of interdisciplinary cooperation. Mostafa Bedewy is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the Swanson School. He was an indispensable partner in this effort. Further, Tomaraei, a Pitt alumna and former Ph.D. student of Bedewy, played an important role in designing the particle.
David Vorp, the John A. Swanson Professor of bioengineering, served as co-lead on the project with Marini. Their unique backgrounds have made for an innovative culture of risk-taking and big idea exploration, letting them dream bigger than traditional medical treatments. The team was led by Justin Weinbaum, a research assistant professor of bioengineering. What he offered was incredibly valuable—with his help, we made huge strides in moving the project along.
The Science Behind Magnetic Particle Creation
To create the magnetic particles, the team used the salting out method. This method enhances their magnetic properties and increases their efficiency as drug carriers. This novel approach enabled the researchers to design a nonloaded carrier that could be magnetically transported throughout the body. Marini couldn’t have been more excited about the findings. She boldly claimed that they really showed these particles could function as targeted drug delivery systems.
Check out these scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images that helped reveal the particle structure of the magnetic particles fabricated with this method. These maps are available for deeper exploration. These photographs capture the labor-intensive process that goes into making each one. More importantly, they highlight the tremendous progress being achieved in this field of research.
Potential Impact on AAA Treatments
Abdominal aortic aneurysms are a significant danger to patients. If these conditions are untreated, it can lead to grave health conditions or death. By developing a method to steer drugs directly to these vulnerable sites using only magnets, Marini and his team are striving to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
The opportunity for this technology to reshape the AAA therapeutic landscape is great. By being able to deliver a medication directly to the affected area, side effects can be greatly minimized. This strategy improves the pain relief provided by the therapy, too. Researchers are working to continuously improve these magnetic particles. They hope that these advancements will inform new approaches to addressing this serious and often life-threatening condition.