Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ANGIE (MAgnetically steerable wireless Nanodevices for the tarGeted delivery of therapeutIc agents in any vascular rEgion of the body)
Período documentado: 2021-01-01 hasta 2022-06-30
Most strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain is occluded by a clot. This clot then prevents areas in the brain from being supplied with oxygen, resulting in the sudden death of brain tissue. Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and stroke cases are expected to rise in the coming years.
The most common treatment for this kind of stroke involves injecting a thrombolytic drug (usually rtPA) into the blood, which then dissolves the clot. Unfortunately, while rtPA effectively dissolves these clots, it has many side effects, including internal bleeding, swelling, and many more. In stroke treatment, the doctor has to find a trade-off between administering a sufficient amount of rtPA to dissolve the clot in the brain and reducing its dosage to avoid its side effects. Unfortunately, these side effects also limit the time rtPA can be used to a few hours after the first symptoms. Thus, many strokes are not treated at all.
In the ANGIE project, We are developing a novel approach to treat strokes. We can deliver the rtPA directly to the stroke site by magnetically steering microrobots to the clot. This approach allows us to deliver higher concentrations of rtPA directly to the clot while reducing the overall amount of rtPA used by a factor of 10.000.
The ANGIE technology will allow blood clots to be opened faster, enlarge the treatment window and reduce the side effects of thrombolytic drugs. We hope that this will increase the patient's quality of life and reduce deaths and disabilities caused by strokes on the one hand, and drastically reduce healthcare costs associated with strokes on the other.
The most common treatment for this kind of stroke involves injecting a thrombolytic drug (usually rtPA) into the blood, which then dissolves the clot. Unfortunately, while rtPA effectively dissolves these clots, it has many side effects, including internal bleeding, swelling, and many more. In stroke treatment, the doctor has to find a trade-off between administering a sufficient amount of rtPA to dissolve the clot in the brain and reducing its dosage to avoid its side effects. Unfortunately, these side effects also limit the time rtPA can be used to a few hours after the first symptoms. Thus, many strokes are not treated at all.
In the ANGIE project, We are developing a novel approach to treat strokes. We can deliver the rtPA directly to the stroke site by magnetically steering microrobots to the clot. This approach allows us to deliver higher concentrations of rtPA directly to the clot while reducing the overall amount of rtPA used by a factor of 10.000.
The ANGIE technology will allow blood clots to be opened faster, enlarge the treatment window and reduce the side effects of thrombolytic drugs. We hope that this will increase the patient's quality of life and reduce deaths and disabilities caused by strokes on the one hand, and drastically reduce healthcare costs associated with strokes on the other.
During the first reporting period of the ANGIE project, we were focused on:
• Building an interdisciplinary community around targeted drug delivery in clinical environments regarding education, gender differences, long-term implications, as well as the potential future returns in societal/economic innovation and market creation.
• The synthesis, characterization, and optimization of biocompatible and biodegradable magnetic mobile microrobots for targeted localized delivery of therapeutics.
• The development of an electromagnetic navigation system to enable the magnetic navigation of the microrobots.
• The creation of an innovation eco-system around the ANGIE technology to foster its take-up in the clinical environments
• Building an interdisciplinary community around targeted drug delivery in clinical environments regarding education, gender differences, long-term implications, as well as the potential future returns in societal/economic innovation and market creation.
• The synthesis, characterization, and optimization of biocompatible and biodegradable magnetic mobile microrobots for targeted localized delivery of therapeutics.
• The development of an electromagnetic navigation system to enable the magnetic navigation of the microrobots.
• The creation of an innovation eco-system around the ANGIE technology to foster its take-up in the clinical environments
Within the first reporting period of ANGIE, we firstly developed several novel methods and materials for the incorporation into a microrobotic platform for magnetically guided drug delivery. These developments include an in-depth investigation of the fabrication and material composition of magnetic nanoparticles, interaction between organic and inorganic components of the platform, and the development of an electromagnetic navigation system.
The first investigation into the clot dissolution capabilities of the drug delivery system showed promising results with a re-canalization time of fewer than 15 minutes.
Until the end of the project, we plan to optimize the magnetically guided microrobot and fully integrate it into a navigation and imaging system. In addition, we will develop realistic models of the human vasculature and test the drug delivery capabilities of the ANGIE system.
Using the ANGIE technology, we aim to reduce or eliminate the side effects of systemic stroke treatment. In addition, we will investigate differences in stroke symptoms between males and females and the socio-economic impact of strokes. Utilizing our network of interdisciplinary experts, local and EU-government, industry, and civil society, we will raise awareness of strokes and prepare to introduce the ANGIE platform in hospitals.
The first investigation into the clot dissolution capabilities of the drug delivery system showed promising results with a re-canalization time of fewer than 15 minutes.
Until the end of the project, we plan to optimize the magnetically guided microrobot and fully integrate it into a navigation and imaging system. In addition, we will develop realistic models of the human vasculature and test the drug delivery capabilities of the ANGIE system.
Using the ANGIE technology, we aim to reduce or eliminate the side effects of systemic stroke treatment. In addition, we will investigate differences in stroke symptoms between males and females and the socio-economic impact of strokes. Utilizing our network of interdisciplinary experts, local and EU-government, industry, and civil society, we will raise awareness of strokes and prepare to introduce the ANGIE platform in hospitals.