Understanding the Mechanism of Drug Transfer and Retention of Drug-Coated Balloons

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of varying inflation parameters on paclitaxel delivery and retention using a commercially available DCB. BACKGROUND: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have become the standard treatment for peripheral artery disease. Clinical data suggest that varying DCB delivery parameters directly impact patient outcome. Differences in delivery parameters can potentially alter the retention of the drug coating on DCBs. METHODS: Harvested porcine carotid arteries were utilized in an ex vivo pulsatile flow bioreactor system. The DCBs were then deployed at a DCB-to-artery ratio of 1:1 or 1.25:1, an inflation time of 30 seconds or 1 minute and transit time of 30 seconds or 3 minutes. The amount of drug retention in arterial tissue was evaluated by pharmacokinetic analysis at 1 hour and 1 day post DCB deployment. RESULTS: Arterial paclitaxel levels were found to be less at an inflation ratio of 1:1 with 3-minute transit time as compared to 30 seconds of transit time at 1 hour (12.3 ± 1.6 ng/mg vs. 391 ± 139 ng/mg, P = .036). At 1-day, DCBs deployed at a ratio of 1:1 resulted in less drug retention as compared to 1.25:1 (61.3 ± 23.1 ng/mg vs. 404 ± 195 ng/mg, P = .013). CONCLUSION: Arterial paclitaxel retention is reduced with extended transit times and sub-optimal expansion of the balloon. Optimization of delivery parameters can serve as an effective strategy to enhance clinical DCB outcomes.