A Novel Therapy to Treat Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease due to atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Percutaneous interventions to treat atherosclerotic plaque induce mechanical or thermal injury to the vessel wall, which stimulates the development of neointimal hyperplasia and results in arterial restenosis. The objective of this study is to evaluate a new methodology in a preclinical animal model to reduce atherosclerotic plaque burden without inducing mechanical trauma to the arterial wall. Our paradigm-shifting technology is based on a safe method of digesting the atherosclerotic plaque in situ through the use of a specialty double balloon occlusion catheter we will develop. We hypothesize that a digestion solution containing agents that specifically target the components of plaque will dissolve and digest the plaque in situ within a clinically relevant timeframe. The specific aims of this proposal are to: 1) design and fabricate a specialty double balloon occlusion catheter to deliver our therapy to the vasculature in vivo, and 2) evaluate the safety and efficacy of our therapy in a preclinical atherosclerotic animal model. Overall, this therapy has the potential to have an enormous impact in the clinical arena, given the number of percutaneous interventions that are performed annually to treat atherosclerosis.