Nanocavities trapped along fibrin fibers allow the diffusion of thrombolytic drugs

Ischemic heart disease consists in the formation of an occluding thrombus which hinders blood flow. The dissolution of the network of fibrin fibers, which constitute the thrombus scaffold, by using thrombolitic drugs is the most common pharmacological therapy. In this paper, by using small angle neutron scattering, we report the evidence of the presence of solvent filled cylindrical nanocavities, trapped along fibrin fibers, of diameter R = 3.2 ± 0.1 nm and length L = 22 ± 2 nm. The characterization of intra-fiber nanocavities furnishes a quantitative tool for the design of new enzymes which, by diffusing into fibrin fibers, fasten the thrombus lysis.