LOCAL INTRAVASCULAR DRUG-DELIVERY - IN-VITRO COMPARISON OF 3 CATHETERSYSTEMS

Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare different cathe ter systems for local drug delivery with respect to the penetration de pth of a biotin marker solution delivered into the vessel wall. Method s: Post-mortem carotid arteries from pigs were locally infused with a biotin solution using three different catheter systems. With all cathe ters (microporous balloon catheter, hydrogel-coated balloon catheter, and spiral balloon catheter) we used the same pressure of 405 kPa (4 a tm) and infusion times of 60, 90, and 300 sec. After infusion the arte ries were histologically prepared and stained using a biotin-specific method. With a light microscope an observer, blinded to the catheter t ype, scored the amount of biotin within the vessel wall, measured as s taining intensity, and the penetration depth of the biotin. Results: D elivery with the hydrogel-coated balloon catheter was limited to the i ntima and the innermost parts of the media. The spiral balloon and mic roporous balloon catheter showed both a deeper penetration and a large r amount of delivered biotin compared with the hydrogel catheter, with a slightly deeper penetration using the microporous catheter. The pen etration depth showed a correlation with infusion time for the spiral balloon and microporous catheters, but not for the hydrogel-coated cat heter. Conclusion: Different catheter designs lead to different patter ns of local drug delivery. The differences in penetration depth and am ount of the substance delivered to the vessel wall should be known and might be useful for targeting specific areas within the vessel wall.