Magnetorheology for Reduction of Blood Viscosity, Turbulence, and Atherosclerosis*

Despite nutritional modification and lipid reducing medications, atherosclerotic vascular syndromes account for 50% of all mortality in US. It is well known that disturbed blood flow hemodynamics make different regions of the vasculature interface vulnerable to development of atherosclerotic plaque, and that growing plaque generates more biomechanical force to disturb blood flow. Currently, there is no modality which targets disturbed blood flow to reduce growth atherosclerotic plaque. Here we report our finding with magnetorheology: application of a strong magnetic field to blood along its flow direction, red blood cells are polarized in the magnetic field and aggregated into short chains along the flow direction. The blood viscosity becomes anisotropic: Along the flow direction the viscosity is significantly reduced, but in the directions perpendicular to the flow the viscosity is considerably increased. THe disturbed blood flow is thus suppressed, becomes laminar, and the blood circulation is greatly improved. Our recent tests with mice show that this technology can effective prevent development of atherosclerotic plaque on the vasculature interface. The physics of hemodynamics leads us to find a solution to prevent heart attacks..