Bilayer Coated Ureteral Stent as Drug Delivery Platform to Treat Ureteric Diseases

摘要

The current methods of treating ureteric diseases such as strictures and carcinoma include endoscopic full-thickness incision of the ureteric wall and placement of an indwelling stent for up to 6 weeks. However, such interventions are not always successful, have high rates of obstruction recurrence, and require repeated interventions. It has been reported that postoperative administration of adjuvant topical drugs can reduce recurrence of ureteric disease. However, the challenge remains to achieve efficacious drug concentration in the target tissue. Current indwelling stents serve only as passive internal scaffolds and do not address any pathology e.g. fibrosis, infection, tumours. The devised technology relates to a drug-eluting ureteric stent that delivers the therapeutic agent into the diseased ureteric tissues via a swellable hydrogel coating. Drug diffusion and transport into the ureteric tissue is enhanced as the hydrogel swells and contacts with the ureteric wall.