Scientists invent ointment to treat heart attacks

The serial production of the ointment may be started in 1.5 years

Kazakhstan cardiologists and researchers have invented heart ointment to help patients who suffered an infarction. The Kazakhstan Research Institute for Molecular Biology and Biochemistry developed a special smart capsule for active drug molecules, co-chief of the project, leading research official of the Kazakhstan Cardiology and Internal Diseases Research Institute Alma Mansharipova tells.

As a result of the experiment, the researchers got tiny one-micron vesicles that open only when contact diseased cells and let the active drug in. These vesicles are part of the ointment. The cardiologist adds that traditional post-infarction medications are not really effective as they do not get inside of diseased heart cells.

Damaged cells as a rule mortify and cover the heart surface with scars thus breaking the normal heart function. Doctors believe the new ointment may solve the problem. Cardiologist Mansharipova says patients should apply the ointment to any part of the skin of 2 cm in size. The steady effect of the ointment is 24 hours.

For the time being, the invention is being used in testing three sorts of medications. One of the medications is meant to be used instead of nitroglycerine, another is for decreasing blood pressure and the third medication is to fight inflammations. The Kazakhstan researchers believe that any agent may be put inside of such vesicles to create a new generation of effective medications. The Research Institute reports that the invention has been patented; large-scale production of such ointments may be started in 1.5 years, ITAR-TASS reports.