
Ischemic stroke is caused by a dysfunction in the supply of blood to the brain due to emboli, thrombus or atherosclerosis occurring in cerebral arteries. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, around 17 million people die every year due to cardiovascular diseases. Heart attacks and strokes respectively account for the highest number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, globally. The statistics of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that about 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes. Stroke is one of the leading cause of long term disability, occurring at a higher rate in the old age population. Moreover, stroke leads to 1 out of every 20 deaths, costing around $34 billion to U.S. annually. Higher rates of mortality associated with strokes highlight an impending need for innovative drugs and diagnostic devices.