Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Neurology have developed an intelligent stent system for chronic on-demand drug delivery, addressing the challenge of the blood-brain barrier hindering drug therapy in the central nervous system.
Background:
The blood-brain barrier poses a significant obstacle to effective drug delivery to the central nervous system. Current solutions, such as SonoCloud and Stentrode, have limitations, either requiring invasive procedures or lacking versatility for various neurological disorders. SonoCloud transiently disrupts the blood-brain barrier via transduced ultrasound pulses, but this invasive device must be implanted into a patient’s skull. Another promising method is the integration of microelectronic mechanical systems within stents to transduce brain signals for computer interfacing. Therapies such as Stentrode, however, are still in their infancy. There remains an unmet need to leverage current advances in MEMS-integrated stent technologies to generate minimally invasive drug delivery systems.
Innovation:
UCLA's innovation involves a sputtered superelastic stent scaffold with highly deformable microfluidic chambers and piezoelectric ultrasound transducers. The system includes a flexible hypotube housing microfluidic channels and electrical connections, leading to a subcutaneous implant in the thorax with programmable features for drug delivery. This minimally invasive intelligent stent system enables transient blood-brain barrier disruption and direct drug delivery into the central nervous system, offering a versatile solution for treating neurological disorders. The technology presents a significant advancement in implantable drug delivery devices, with potential applications in neuro-oncology, neurogenerative diseases, and other challenging conditions.
Potential Applications:
• Neurological disorder treatment
• Oncology
• Generalized drug delivery
Advantages:
• Minimally invasive
• Programmable
Development to Date:
Inventors are currently developing a prototype of the device.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2021-069
Lead Inventor:
Dr. Jose Morales