Mechano-responsive Nano-medicine for Targeted Drug Delivery

In the cardiovascular system, hemodynamics, and transport phenomena are key factors in the development of efficient targeted nano-medicine. Additionally, cardiovascular disease sites are characterized by a locally abnormal mechanical environment. Leveraging such an abnormality, we developed a drug delivery approach that utilizes the high shear stress in regions of artery stenosis as a means to selectively deliver target drugs to these disease sites. In order to rationally design such carriers, we use in silico/in vitro microfluidic models which emulate vascular stenosis conditions and allow us to study the behaviour of mechano-responsive nano-medicines under relevant dynamic conditions. Using such models we study design parameters as well as drug targeting capabilities of targeted nano- medicines. So far, we have utilized this approach to efficiently deliver a thrombolytic drug to dissolve clots at sites of stenosis. Altogether, our work illustrates biomechanics can be used to design and develop novel cardiovascular therapeutic strategies.