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Microclots and Neutrophil Activation as Potential Indicators for Stroke Risk and Reperfusion Failure
Sponsor: University of Zurich
Summary
Stroke remains a major health burden worldwide. Many patients are severely disabled and stay in need of care. Mechanical thrombectomy has dramatically improved outcomes for stroke patients with large vessel occlusions, yet 40-50% of patients with successful recanalization remain severely disabled despite successful recanalization, a scenario called "futile recanalization". One of the causes for this lack of treatment effect is capillary obstruction, or "no reflow", potentially resulting from activated neutrophils and micrometer-sized blood clots. To address this issue, we employ digital holotomographic and atomic force microscopy to investigate the structural and chemical characteristics of blood and clot material in stroke patients and individuals at high risk of developing a stroke. Our study elucidates the association of activated neutrophils and microclots with stroke risk, and may be associated with clinical outcome, stroke ethology and reperfusion failure in patients with stroke. Leveraging label-free microscopy tools, could potentially lead to the discovery of new biomarkers for individualized stroke treatment and prevention, ultimately offering rapid identification of at risk patients and improving clinical outcomes
Official title: Micro-clots and Neutrophil Activation as Potential Indicators for Stroke Risk and Reperfusion Failure The CLOTSAFE - Study (Micro-CLOTs, Stroke Risk, Activated Neutrophils, Reperfusion FailurE)
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
500
Start Date
2025-02-01
Completion Date
2030-12-01
Last Updated
2025-08-29
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
3D rotational digital tomography
DHTM is label-free and records the phase shift of low-energy light passing through the specimen on a transparent surface with minimal perturbation. DHTM measures the refractive index (RI) and computes the refractive index gradient (RIG), unveiling optical heterogeneity in cells. We will analyze blood samples for the detection of altered neutrophil phenotypes and microclots.
Atomic Force Microscopy
The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in materials science and has found many applications in biological sciences but has been limited in use in vision science. The AFM can be used to image the topography of soft biological materials in their native environments. We will analyze blood samples for the detection of altered neutrophil phenotypes and microclots
Micro-Computertomography
Micro-CT is a 3D imaging technique utilizing X-rays to see inside an object, slice by slice. Micro-CT, also called microtomography or micro computed tomography, is similar to hospital CT or "CAT" scan imaging but on a small scale with greatly increased resolution. Samples can be imaged with pixel sizes as small as 100 nanometers and objects can be scanned as large as 200 millimeters in diameter. We will use micro-CT to analyze blood clots from patients with large vessel occlusion.
Locations (1)
University Hospital Zurich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland