Injectable adjustable implant to prevent airway narrowing
INJECTABLE, TUNABLE CO-DELIVERY THERAPEUTIC IMPLANT TO REDUCE AIRWAY STENOSIS
A tiny injectable implant will slowly release steroid and antibiotic medicine to help adults with scarring or narrowing of the windpipe after intubation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321181 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing a small, injectable implant that can be placed at the injured site of the larynx or trachea to deliver medicine over time. The implant will release a steroid to calm inflammation and an antibiotic to help control airway bacteria, either continuously for about six weeks or when activated by a laser. Right now the team is refining the formula and testing safety, drug-release timing, and immune responses in a rabbit model before any human work. If these preclinical results are promising, the approach could advance toward clinical testing in people with airway injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have or are at high risk for early laryngotracheal injury or developing tracheal stenosis after intubation would be the likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, fixed tracheal scarring, active widespread infection, or known allergy to implant materials would likely not benefit from this local implant approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce repeated injections and surgeries and lower the need for tracheostomy by keeping the airway open and less inflamed.
How similar studies have performed: Doctors already use local steroid injections to reduce airway inflammation, but combining sustained steroid-plus-antibiotic delivery in an injectable, laser-activated implant is a novel strategy not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Yoonjee — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Park, Yoonjee
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.