When Can A Bialy Save Your Life? When It's A "Nanobialy"

The "nanobialy," developed by researchers in the Consortium for Translational Research in Advanced Imaging and Nanomedicine (C-TRAIN) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, seems to be the safest nano diagnostic and treatment medium yet unveiled, at least for persons with kidney disease.

The nanobialy is expected to be particularly effective as an imaging agent for magnetic resonance and other forms of imaging to detect tumors and atherosclerotic masses. Currently, the nanoparticle being used by the C-TRAIN testing group contains gadolinium, an agent commonly used in the contrast dye for MRI studies. However, gadolinium causes serious problems for people with kidney disease, sometimes speeding up the progression of kidney failure.

The nanobialy, named for its shape (not its taste), is made with manganese instead of gadolinium. "Manganese is an element found naturally in the body," said Dipanjan Pan, Ph.D., research instructor in medicine in the Cardiovascular Division of the Washington University School of Medicine. "In addition, the manganese in the nanobialys is tied up so it stays with the particles, making them very safe."

What the group found was that the manganese directs the nanoparticle, which is mostly synthetic polymer, to the fibrin molecules in atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots. In essence, the nanobialy makes a beeline for these bodies, singling them out in vivid color for researchers and physicians to observe.

In addition to being able to highlight atherosclerotic plaque, tumors, and blood clots, the nanobialy will used as a vehicle to carry the selected treatments to these sites. So, in the future, should you develop atherosclerosis or other nanobialy attractor, you may be able to say that a bialy saved your life.

via E! Science News: photo of bialys from Coney Island Bialys and Bagels.

To read the C-TRAIN research, see Ligand-Directed Nanobialys as Theranostic Agent for Drug Delivery and Manganese-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Vascular Targets

From Wikipedia :

Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting arterial blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density (especially small particle) lipoproteins (plasma proteins that carry cholesterol and triglycerides) without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoproteins (HDL), (see apoA-1 Milano). It is commonly referred to as a "hardening" or "furring" of the arteries. It is caused by the formation of multiple plaques within the arteries.^[1] (For further information, click here.)

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