Open AccessMicromotors for Active Delivery of Minerals toward the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Author(s) -
Emil Karshalev,
Yue Zhang,
Berta EstebanFernández de Ávila,
Mara BeltránGastélum,
Yijie Chen,
Rodolfo MundacaUribe,
Fangyu Zhang,
Bryan Nguyen,
Tianyu Yao,
Ronnie H. Fang,
Liangfang Zhang,
Joseph Wang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.853
H-Index - 488
eISSN - 1530-6992
pISSN - 1530-6984
DOI - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02832
Subject(s) - bioavailability , anemia , iron deficiency , hemoglobin , selenium , chemistry , ferroportin , hepcidin , nanotechnology , medicine , materials science , pharmacology , organic chemistry
As the most common nutritional disorder, iron deficiency represents a major public health problem with broad impacts on physical and mental development. However, treatment is often compromised by low iron bioavailability and undesired side effects. Here, we report on the development of active mineral delivery vehicles using Mg-based micromotors, which can autonomously propel in gastrointestinal fluids, aiding in the dynamic delivery of minerals. Iron and selenium are combined as a model mineral payload in the micromotor platform. We demonstrate the ability of our mineral-loaded micromotors to replenish iron and selenium stores in an anemic mouse model after 30 days of treatment, normalizing hematological parameters such as red blood count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Additionally, the micromotor platform exhibits no toxicity after the treatment regimen. This proof-of-concept study indicates that micromotor-based active delivery of mineral supplements represents an attractive approach toward alleviating nutritional deficiencies.