Wireless airway stent with tiny moving cilia to clear mucus
Wirelessly Actuated Ciliary Stent for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Cilia Dysfunction
This project will build a tiny airway stent with wireless artificial cilia to help people with COPD or airway collapse move mucus out and keep airways open.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323629 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is designing an airway stent covered in microscopic artificial cilia that sweep mucus when activated by a safe magnetic system. Engineers will create the cilia blanket and the wireless control system, then test how well the device moves mucus in lab experiments and animal models. They will also optimize materials and stent design to prevent tissue ingrowth and to support collapsed airways without major surgery. If preclinical work is successful, the device could advance toward testing in people at medical centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with central airway obstruction, mucus retention, or airway collapse from COPD or similar lung diseases who are candidates for airway stenting may be the best fit.
Not a fit: Patients whose breathing problems are caused by conditions unrelated to airway ciliary dysfunction, those who are not candidates for bronchoscopy, or those with active uncontrolled infection may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could reduce repeated bronchoscopies and risky surgeries by keeping airways open and clearing mucus more naturally.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory work has shown magnetically actuated artificial cilia can move fluids, but putting them into an implantable airway stent is a novel approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Xiaoguang — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Dong, Xiaoguang
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.