Targeted drug delivery using synthetic cells in narrowed blood vessels
Official title: Shear stress-activated synthetic cells for targeted drug release in stenotic blood vessels
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10983737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating special tiny cells that can release medicine right where it's needed in blocked blood vessels, helping people with heart problems get better treatment while avoiding side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $42,574 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HL170510-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10983737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from atherosclerosis or other conditions that cause stenosis in blood vessels.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal blood vessel function or those not experiencing significant narrowing will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop synthetic cells that can release drugs specifically in narrowed blood vessels, where increased shear stress occurs due to conditions like thrombosis. By engineering these synthetic cells to respond to the high shear stress environment, the project seeks to improve drug delivery directly at the site of blockage, minimizing systemic side effects and reducing the risk of bleeding associated with current treatments. The approach involves using mechanosensitive channels from bacteria to create a system that activates drug release only in the targeted areas. This innovative method could lead to more effective treatments for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer and more effective treatment option for patients with narrowed blood vessels, reducing the risk of strokes and other complications.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of targeted drug delivery is established, the specific approach of using shear stress-activated synthetic cells is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Sung-Won — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Sung-Won
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.