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Glycogen-Based Nanocomplexes Enhance Blood Clot Dissolution
Nadiia Foliush (née Davydiuk), Manfred Maitz, Quinn A. Besford, and colleagues at the IPF have developed biodegradable, glycogen-based nanocomplexes designed to improve the delivery of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a drug used to dissolve blood clots. In laboratory experiments, the nanocomplexes significantly improved clot dissolution while showing high compatibility with human blood. The study, which involved collaboration between three IPF divisions, was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
Tissue plasminogen activator is widely used in clinical practice to treat conditions such as ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction. However, the drug’s effectiveness is limited by its short circulation half-life, poor clot targeting, and the risk of severe bleeding complications. To address these limitations, the IPF team developed phytoglycogen nanoparticles modified with heparin and cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptides. These modifications enable the nanoparticles to bind tPA and to interact with activated platelets, supporting targeted delivery of the drug to blood clots.
The nanocomplexes demonstrated substantially enhanced clot dissolution compared with free tPA. In experiments with human blood clots, the complexes achieved complete clot dissolution within 90 minutes at a tPA concentration of 0.2 nM, while free tPA showed only limited activity at the same concentration. Improved clot dissolution was also observed under conditions mimicking vascular blood flow.
The nanocomplexes exhibited minimal association with immune cells and did not induce significant inflammatory or coagulation responses in human blood. They also retained their biodegradability, as demonstrated by their enzymatic breakdown. Together, these findings suggest that glycogen-based nanocomplexes could contribute to the development of more efficient and potentially safer thrombolytic therapies.
Original publication:
Davydiuk, N., Londhe, V., Boye, S. et al. Hemocompatible Glycogen-Tissue Plasminogen Activator Complexes for Enhanced Blood Clot Dissolution. Advanced Healthcare Materials, e71880 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.71880
09.11.2026