Drug-loaded balloon with built-in NIR controlled tip-separable microneedles for long-effective arteriosclerosis treatment

Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty has emerged as an effective treatment for cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular diseases. However, distal embolism and late lumen restenosis could be caused by drug loss during DEB handling and rapid drug metabolization. Here, a drug-loaded balloon equipped with tip-separable microneedles on the balloon surface (MNDLB) was developed. Inbuilt near-infrared (NIR) ring laser inside the catheter inner shaft was introduced to activate the biodegradable microneedle tips for the first time. The drug-loaded tips thus could be embedded in the vasculature and then released antiproliferative drug - paclitaxel slowly via polymer degradation for more than half a year. A significant increase in drug delivery efficiency and superior therapeutic effectiveness compared with the standard DEB were demonstrated using an atherosclerosis rabbit model.

Automated summary

Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty is an effective treatment for cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular diseases. However, there are concerns about drug loss and rapid metabolization during the procedure. In this study, a new drug-loaded balloon with separable microneedles was developed, and the activation of the microneedles was achieved using a near-infrared ring laser. The slow release of the antiproliferative drug over a long period of time resulted in increased drug delivery efficiency and superior therapeutic effectiveness compared to the standard DEB.