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operates on the molecular level—the realm of molecules and
atoms.
What the Clemson team hoped to do was to coat their
nanoparticles with a sticky protein or certain drugs that would
coat the walls of the arteries and help to unclog them. As one
of the Clemson researchers said, “These nanoparticles can be
delivered intravenously to target injured areas and can administer
drugs over longer periods of time, thus avoiding repeated surgical
interventions at the disease site.” 16
In 2019 another scientifi c team, this one based at the Univer-
sity of Southern California (USC), followed the same path as the
Clemson researchers. The USC team was able to use nanopar-
ticles to make the most clogged areas of arteries stand out and
thereby be targeted for treatment as quickly as possible. Then the
team members set their sights on engineering the nanoparticles
to deliver substances that can actually re-

Surgery for clogged arteries move the blockage. In the words of one
(pictured) is an invasive team member, “The idea behind nanopar-
and often risky procedure. ticles and nanomedicine is that it can be
Researchers hope to eliminate
the need for surgery by using
nanoparticles to carry life-saving
medicine to clogged arteries.