Formation of microcapsules by ultrasound stimulation for use in remote-controlled drug-eluting stents

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a global health challenge, resulting in around 17.3 million deaths annually [1]. The placement of stents in diseased coronary arteries is the most successful minimally-invasive intervention to treat CHD. The most advanced stents are drug-eluting stents (DES), which release a drug to inhibit the excessive smooth muscle proliferative process responsible for the inconsistent results achieved with bare metal stents. However, there is evidence that DES prevent regrowth of the endothelial cell layer (endothelium) that lines the innermost layer of the artery and it is increasingly clear that regeneration of this layer is crucial to securing positive long term outcomes [2].
Source: Medical Engineering and Physics - Category: Biomedical Engineering Authors: Tags: Technical Note Source Type: research