A microexplosive shockwave-based drug delivery microsystem for treating hard-to-reach areas in the human body

Abstract

Implantable drug-delivery microsystems have the capacity to locally meet therapeutic requirements by maximizing local drug efficacy and minimizing potential side effects. The internal organs of the human body including the esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract, with anfractuos contours, all manifest with endoluminal lesions often located in a curved or zigzag area. The ability of localized drug delivery for these organs using existing therapeutic modalities is limited. Spraying a drug onto these areas and using the adhesion and water absorption properties of the drug powder to attach to lesion areas can provide effective treatment. This study aimed to report the development and application of microsystems based on microshockwave delivery of drugs. The devices comprised a warhead-like shell with a powder placed at the head of the device and a flexible rod that could be inserted at the tail. These devices had the capacity to deposit drugs on mucous membranes in curved or zigzag areas of organs in the body. The explosive impact characteristics of the device during drug delivery were analyzed by numerical simulation. In the experiment of drug delivery in pig intestines, we described the biosafety and drug delivery capacity of the system. We anticipate that such microsystems could be applied to a range of endoluminal diseases in curved or zigzag regions of the human body while maximizing the on-target effects of drugs.

Molecular modelling of shockwave-mediated delivery of paclitaxel aggregates across the neuronal plasma membrane

“…As a totally non-intrusive strategy with good controllability and miniaturization potential, shock-assisted drug delivery would hold great promise for clinicians. 48 Paclitaxel is a very popular natural anti-tumour drug that offers a new option for the treatment of brain glioma. 49 Here, to advance shock-assisted drug delivery, the hydrophobic drug PTX was chosen as a typical example for exploring the transport mechanism of jets from shock-induced bubble collapse.…”

A glutathione-responsive PEGylated nanogel with doxorubicin-conjugation for cancer therapy

“…1,2 To develop effective anticancer drugs with fewer side effects and prolong drug action, scientists have developed many different nanocarriers or nanotechnologies to prolong systemic drug circulation [3][4][5][6] and deliver drugs directly to lesions. [7][8][9][10][11] Thus, drug-based nanomedicines have become a hotspot in the drug delivery field. 12,13 Unfortunately, most encapsulated or absorbed drugs on or in nanocarriers probably leaked during systemic circulation in vivo, 14,15 resulting in decreased drug efficacy and increased side effects in normal tissues.…”