Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
07:20
Delivery of Cardioactive Therapeutics in a Porcine Myocardial Infarction Model
Published on: February 10, 2023
An Implantable Phototriggered Prodrug Depot Patch Enables Actively Programmable Drug Release for Post-Myocardial
Haipeng Lu1,2, Kaicheng Deng1,2, Zhang Zhang2
1Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Heart Regeneration and Repair Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
A new implantable patch delivers drugs after heart attack (myocardial infarction) using light. This programmable system allows controlled, sustained release, improving cardiac function and reducing inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) requires long-term drug treatment.
- Current drug delivery systems are passive or require continuous light.
- Existing systems lack integrated drug reservoirs and light platforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an implantable, light-controlled drug delivery system for programmable post-MI therapy.
- To overcome limitations of passive and continuously illuminated drug release systems.
Main Methods:
- Developed an implantable phototriggered prodrug depot patch (iPDP) combining a GTel-hydrogel and a light-guiding device.
- Utilized a self-immolative linker for light-independent, sustained release after optical triggering.
- Programmed drug release by controlling light intensity and duration.
Main Results:
- The iPDP successfully delivered a programmed triple-dose regimen in a rat MI model.
- Fractionated drug release demonstrated superior efficacy compared to a single dose.
- Improved cardiac function and suppressed inflammation were observed.
Conclusions:
- The iPDP enables active, programmable drug release post-implantation via a single device.
- This technology offers a promising strategy for dynamic, long-term treatment of myocardial infarction.
- The system allows precise dose control through light parameters, minimizing leakage.
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