Targeted treatment to repair and strengthen aortic aneurysms
Official title: Targeted therapy to reverse aortic aneurysms
Funded at Clemson University · NIH-11309164 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nanoparticle therapy that homes to damaged aortic tissue and delivers a natural compound to rebuild and stabilize the artery wall is being developed for people with abdominal aortic aneurysms to try to stop growth and rupture.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clemson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Clemson, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2017 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,941 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL133662-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309164 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with small-to-medium abdominal aortic aneurysms who are currently under watchful waiting and not yet candidates for surgery would be the most likely future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with very large, rapidly expanding, or already-ruptured aneurysms who need immediate surgical repair would not be helped by this early-stage therapy.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating nanoparticles coated with an antibody that finds only damaged elastin in the aorta and carries a polyphenol called PGG that can strengthen and help regrow elastin and collagen. In lab tests and mouse models of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the team will give the targeted particles and look to see if the aorta stops enlarging and resists rupture. The work centers on proving the delivery method (called DESTINeD) gets the medicine to the damaged area and that PGG restores the structural proteins in the vessel wall. If these animal experiments are successful, the approach could move toward safety testing in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a non-surgical medicine to stop small or medium abdominal aortic aneurysms from growing or rupturing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous drug trials for slowing aneurysm growth in humans have had limited or mixed success, and the elastin-targeted nanoparticle plus PGG approach is novel with promising animal data but untested in people.
Where this research is happening
-
Clemson University
Clemson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vyavahare, Naren R — Clemson University
- Study coordinator: Vyavahare, Naren R
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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.