Nanoparticle drug delivery system for restenosis

Restenosis, an arterial reobstruction occurring in thirty to fifty percent of patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, because of its localized nature can possibly be best treated by local drug therapy. In recent years, several local drug delivery strategies have been investigated for the prevention of restenosis. In this review we discuss the therapeutic potential of nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for restenosis. Nanoparticles, for the purpose of this review, are 30-500 nm diameter polymeric spherical particles. Nanoparticles possess several advantages as a carrier system for the intra-arterial localization of therapeutic agents. These advantages include their subcellular size, targeted surfaces, good suspensibility, and uniform dispersity for a catheter-based delivery, and an easy penetration into the arterial wall without causing trauma. In various studies we have demonstrated an efficient intra-arterial localization of nanoparticles, biocompatibility in the arterial wall, and effectiveness for the inhibition of experimental restenosis. Thus, nanoparticles could prove to be an effective dosage form for an intra-arterial localization of therapeutic agents for preventing restenosis in a clinical setting.