Thrombolysis based on magnetically-controlled surface-functionalized FeO nanoparticle.

In this study, the control of magnetic fields to manipulate surface-functionalized FeO nanoparticles by urokinase coating is investigated for thrombolysis in a microfluidic channel. The urokinase-coated FeO nanoparticles are characterized using particle size distribution, zeta potential measurement and spectroscopic data. Thrombolytic ratio tests reveal that the efficiency for thrombus cleaning is significantly improved when using magnetically-controlled urokinase-coated FeO nanoparticles than pure urokinase solution. The average increase in the rate of thrombolysis with the use of urokinase-coated FeO nanoparticles is about 50%. In vitro thrombolysis test in a microfluidic channel using the coated nanoparticles shows nearly complete removal of thrombus, a result that can be attributed to the clot busting effect of the urokinase as it inhibits the possible formation of blood bolus during the magnetically-activated microablation process. The experiment further demonstrates that a thrombus mass of 10.32 mg in the microchannel is fully removed in about 180 s.