title: The use of shear stress for targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Stenosed segments of arteries significantly alter the blood flow known from healthy vessels. In particular, the wall shear stress at critically stenosed arteries is at least an order of magnitude higher than in healthy situations. This alteration represents a change in physical force and might be used as a trigger signal for drug delivery. Mechano-sensitive drug delivery systems that preferentially release their payload under increased shear stress are discussed. Therefore, besides biological or chemical markers, physical triggers are a further principle approach for targeted drug delivery. We hypothesize that such a physical trigger is much more powerful to release drugs for vasodilation, plaque stabilization, or clot lysis at stenosed arteries than any known biological or chemical ones.
authors: Cardiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil 4, Geneva, Switzerland. till.saxer@hcuge.ch
authors: Till
authors: T
authors: Saxer
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Zumbuehl
authors: Bert
authors: B
authors: Müller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D053758:Nanoparticles; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Liposome; Nano medicine; Shear stress; Targeted drug delivery