Targeted drug delivery to treat heart and blood vessel disease
Targeted drug delivery for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and its clinical complications
This project develops nanoparticle medicines carried by living cells to deliver treatments directly to clogged arteries and blood clots for people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262923 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team is making tiny polymer nanoparticles using next‑generation Flash NanoPrecipitation methods and then using cells to carry or guide those particles to atherosclerotic plaques and thrombi. Nanoparticles can be loaded into cells outside the body or decorated with surface ligands so they stick to the right cells in blood vessels. The goal is to concentrate drugs where blockages and clots form so more medicine reaches the problem and less affects the rest of the body. The work emphasizes methods that could be scaled for manufacturing and aims to move these targeted approaches toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — for example those with significant arterial plaque or a history of thrombosis — would be the intended future candidates for related clinical trials.
Not a fit: People whose heart problems are not caused by atherosclerosis or thrombosis, or those with conditions that prevent cell‑based therapies, may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow stronger treatment of blocked arteries and blood clots with fewer side effects by delivering drugs precisely to diseased vessel sites.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle and cell‑mediated delivery approaches have shown promise in animal and preclinical studies but remain early and not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maiocchi, Sophie — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Maiocchi, Sophie
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.