One of the most difficult parts of an equine veterinarian’s job is trying to diagnose a problem deep within the chest or abdomen of a sick horse. Even with ultrasound, X rays, CT scans, and MRI, it is often nearly impossible to figure out exactly what and where the problem is. But new research from a group of veterinary researchers indicates that sometimes the way to figure out the big picture in equine medicine is by using something extremely small.

"Nano-technology refers to the use of microscopic nanoparticles measuring less than 1000 nanometers in diameter that can be injected into the bloodstream and ‘pool’ at sites of infection, inflammation, and even neoplasia," explained Claire Underwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland-Gatton Campus in Australia.

Recognizing the immense potential of these nanoparticles not only for the early diagnosis of infection, inflammation, and tumors, but also for targeted drug delivery, Underwood and a team of Dutch researchers evaluated the safety and distribution of specially designed nanoparticles in horses.

Ten healthy horses received an intravenous dose of nanoparticles, some of which were labeled with technetium-99 (^99mTc), the same radioactive isotope that is used during bone scans in horses. A standard bone scan camera was then used to locate where the nanoparticles went in the horses’ bodies one, 12, and 21 hours post-injection