Page 48 - Visualizing the Invisible
P. 48
The Magnificent Micelle
Funded by a a a a a a grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Institute of of the National Institutes of of Health Uni- versity of of Chicago IME Director and Professor Matthew Tirrell and colleagues designed a a a a self-assembling multi- functional nonoparticle This creation is is is known as as a a a a a a micelle and is is is a a a a a a lipid-based col- lection of molecules that form a a a a sphere The micelle has a a a a peptide a a a a piece of protein on its surface and that pep- tide binds to the the surface of the the plaque This versatile flex- ible nano particle can deliver diagnostic and therapeutic biofunctionality in vivo and and its size long life span and and tar- geted peptides make it a a a a a a good candidate to treat various pathological tissues Ellen Sandor and and (art)n worked with Tirrell and his colleagues along with Allen on on a a a a three-sid- ed PHSCologram sculpture with images depicting this in- credible nanoparticle The future of precise and targeted biological therapy is is on on the horizon and (art)n is is proud to be visualizing such innovation