Tomsk firm Nanokor has received a residency status in the biomedical cluster of the Skolkovo innovation center with its technology for treating atherosclerosis plaque in blood vessels, news agency RIA Novosti reports citing regional authorities.

As part of Skolkovo, the company wants to complete research and start further development.

According to regional authorities, the Tomsk innovators plan to carry out research on a brand new technology for treating atherosclerosis plaques in blood vessels. For that purpose, the scientists suggest creating a nano-particle capable of penetrating an atherosclerosis plaque and actively, yet selectively, interact with its structures to initiate biochemical changes.

“One year of experiments brought expected results; nano-particles were selected from a large set of nanomaterial. Most importantly, the nanomaterial was chemically modified by attaching to nano-particles a chain of radicals that interact with plaque substance. Further work proved that this material can penetrate the plaque and change its structure. This discovery can be called a know-how, and scientists from the Institute have applied for a patent,” the officials said.

“Participation in the Skolkovo project gives the company an opportunity to get a grant to complete the science and research work and launch further development,” the officials added.

The firm was co-founded by the Science and Research Institute of Cardiology (the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Tomsk Polytechnic University.