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Micromechanical devices for intravascular drug delivery
1Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA. reed@virginia.edu
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
|November 13, 1998
Summary
Microfabrication enables drug delivery devices. Novel microfabricated stents with integrated probes show potential for targeted therapy delivery within arteries, piercing plaque effectively.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Microfabrication, typically for integrated circuits, offers novel applications in drug and gene delivery systems.
- Existing microprobe technology has successfully delivered DNA into cells, presenting a foundation for more complex applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the extension of microfabrication technology for creating intravascular stents capable of targeted drug delivery.
- To investigate the potential of microprobes integrated into stents for piercing arterial plaque and delivering anti-restenosis therapies.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing silicon micromachining to fabricate microprobes for drug and gene delivery.
- Developing and testing intravascular stents with integrated microprobes for arterial plaque penetration.
- Conducting preliminary experiments on filleted rabbit arteries to assess device efficacy.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful transection of the internal elastic lamina in rabbit arteries using microfabricated probes.
- Preliminary validation of the concept for intravascular drug delivery via microprobe-integrated stents.
Conclusions:
- Microfabrication technology holds significant promise for developing advanced medical devices, including intravascular stents for targeted therapy delivery.
- Further development of nonplanar microfabrication techniques, such as using anodic metal oxides, is crucial for creating practical, cylindrically symmetric devices.