Most of us don’t even know what nanotechnology is and yet it may hold the key to a ground breaking new treatment for heart attack patients. If you think the term nanotechnology sounds like something out of science fiction, then you might not be too far from the truth. According to the National Nanotechnology Institute, nanotechnology involves working with and controlling matter at an infinitely minute level called the nanoscale. One nanometer is equivalent to one-billionth of a meter which means that nanometers are so small that they can only be viewed using special microscopes. To put it in perspective, there are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch.
Okay, so this is interesting but how does this relate to treating heart disease? By understanding matter on the nanoscale, scientists are able to not only control the matter, but also use it to solve problems or treat conditions that they have not been able to address before. As a result, new products can be created to meet those needs.
Researchers at the India Institute of Technology Kanpur in India partnered with engineers from Brown University to use nanotechnology to solve one of the problems facing heart attack patients: cell death in the wall of the heart. When a person has a heart attack, two types of cells die. The first type are nerve cells which are located in the heart wall. The second type of cells that die are the ones which enable the heart to expand and contract when it beats. Without this vital ability to expand and contract, the heart of heart attack victims lose synchronicity when it beats. Unfortunately, this type of damage is permanent and cannot be repaired with surgery, or fixed with medications or lifestyle changes.
Because of this, researchers sought to find a way to build new heart tissue to replace the damaged tissue. Using nanotechnology, researchers created a nanopatch made of carbon nanofibers, polymer, and heart-tissue. The results were quite promising. Researchers observed that heart tissue cells regenerated using the nanopatch at a greatly increased rate. When compared to the control sample, the rate of regeneration of heart tissue cells in the nanopatch samples was six times higher. In addition, neuron cell density was two times greater than the control sample. (ScienceDaily 1)
While much more research is needed before human trials can begin, the news is exciting. In essence, researchers were able to bring dead heart tissue back to life. Since there is currently no treatment for nerve and this type of cell damaged caused by heart attacks, this research could lead to good news in the future for millions of heart attack victims.
Mary Kyle is a freelance writer, editor, and project manager. She has a Master’s degree in Legal Studies and is a certified Project Management Professional. She has two children’s books to her credit and has authored or co-authored hundreds of articles. A songwriter and musician, she is a member of several bands and performs regularly.
Sources:
Brown University (2011, May 20). Researchers create nanopatch for the heart. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 22, 2011, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110519090139.htm
Journal Reference:
1. David A. Stout, Bikramjit Basu, Thomas J. Webster. Poly Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid: Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Myocardial Tissue Engineering Applications. Acta Biomaterialia, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.04.028
What is Nano Technology, National Nanotechnology Institute, http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101what
Reviewed May 23, 2011
Edited by Alison Stanton