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

Abstract

Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty has emerged as an effective treatment for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular 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.

Graphical abstract

A drug-loaded balloon with an array of photothermal tip-separable microneedles formed on the balloon surface is developed for arteriosclerosis treatment. This new device can dilate atherosclerotic stenosis and provide optimal drug transfer to the target tissue by detaching drug-loaded tips under the stimulation of inbuilt 808 nm NIR ring laser, thus the microneedle tips embedded in the vasculature slowly released antiproliferative drug for more than half a year to avoid the late lumen restenosis.

Highlights

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  A ring laser inside the catheter inner shaft was applied to detach microneedle tips.

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  Tip-separable microneedles balloon was able to transfer twice antiproliferative drugs to vascular tissue than conventional DEB.

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  Microneedle tips embedded in the vasculature could release drug for more than half a year to avoid late lumen restenosis.