Targeted treatment using microbots
Project ANGIE: Targeted treatment using microbots
Most strokes are caused by blockage of a blood vessel in the brain due to the formation of a clot. The clot blocks the supply of oxygen to brain areas, leading to the sudden death of brain tissue. The most common treatment for this type of stroke consists of injecting a drug (so-called rtPA) into the blood, which then works to dissolve the clot. Unfortunately, while rtPA is effective at dissolving these clots, it has many side effects, including internal bleeding and swelling.
When treating a stroke, the doctor must find a compromise between giving enough rtPA to dissolve the clot in the brain and the size of the dose to avoid the drug’s side effects. These side effects also limit the time when rtPA can be used to a few hours after the first symptoms. The ANGIE project is developing a new approach to magnetically control microrobots to deliver a higher concentration of rtPA directly into the precipitate while reducing the amount of rtPA used by 10,000 times.
This technology could be very interesting news for stroke patients, as it will allow blood clots to be removed more quickly, expand treatment options and reduce side effects.
If you want to learn more interesting information, do not miss the newsletter that you can find here (in Czech only), or you can contact experts through our chatlab (in Czech only). We hope you will join the conversation and stay on the cutting edge of stroke research. Together we can change the lives of people affected by stroke.
More information can be found on the Angie website (in Czech only).
The project is financed by the European Commission on the basis of grant agreement number 952152.
