Nanoparticle Formulations for Image Guided Cannabis Delivery to Treat Atherosclerosis

 Willem Mulder, Gert van Kempen

Nanomedicine Laboratory at the Translational Molecular Imaging Institute of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine

What if marijuana could help us fight artherosclerosis, the common underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases?

In a 2005 Nature publication, the anti-atherosclerotic effect of cannabis was demonstrated, but typical limitations subdued further research. Willem Mulder, a bio-engineer (working in NYC and Amsterdam), is now developing nanoparticle formulations of cannabis to overcome these limitiations.

Recently some science groupies founded ’High On Nano’ to create awareness around this project.

Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques are the underlying cause of most cardiovascular related deaths. Statins and cannabis have shown potent anti-inflammatory properties, but also both have their typical limitions.

To better exploit both drug classes in atherosclerotic disease, nanoparticle formulations offer significant advantages, including the reduction of systemic or psychotropic effects, while simultaneously increasing the efficacy and bioavailability through local atherosclerotic plaque drug delivery.