Context and challenges

Around 80% of strokes occur when a blood clot (thrombus) obstructs the brain’s blood flow, leading to what is known as an ischemic stroke. Current therapeutic options rely on administering clot-dissolving agents (thrombolysis) or physically removing the clot using a catheter (thrombectomy), yet their overall effectiveness remains limited. The treatment of thrombosis via thrombolysis is currently limited by the inherent proteolytic effect of the tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA), which is currently the only pharmacological treatment available for ischemic stroke. In this context, inorganic nanomaterials with their potential for multifunctionality, represent a promising and innovative avenue for developing combined diagnostic and therapeutic approaches against blood clots.

Objective

The elaboration of a new treatment strategy against stroke based on nano-engineered magnetic porous silica: biocompatible and biodegradable injectable particles that will allow a treatment combining the effects of magnetic hyperthermia with the delivery of tPA antithrombotic enzymes or antioxidants agents prealably loaded in the silica pores.