I-Corps: Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment and Arteriogenic Hydrogels

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是生物材料和血管治疗的发展。该项目将有助于探索水凝胶等动脉生成疗法的临床应用。这种潜在的治疗方法可以作为一种新颖的治疗选择，是微创的，并提供有效的长期解决方案。这种水凝胶技术也可以为医学领域提供一个学习机会，以更好地了解治疗方法如何影响患者护理和生物功能。例如，水凝胶的使用有可能降低患者、提供者和付款人的总体护理成本，同时改善患者的生活质量。I-Corps项目的基础是开发一种可用于治疗多种适应症的适应性生物材料。更好地了解这种技术的应用潜力将为未来先进的动脉生成疗法打开大门。这种产品可能有能力生长出能够处理大量血液流动的大的、平滑肌内衬的小动脉。使用拟议的水凝胶可以改善患者的护理和治疗缺血性疾病，如外周动脉疾病（PAD）或中风。水凝胶是一种基于聚合物的生物材料，含有一种活性肽，可以促进新血管的生长和整合。相对于现有的治疗方案，这种水凝胶是微创的，在动脉闭塞的部位注射这种水凝胶可以帮助自然地恢复受影响组织的血液供应，防止进一步的并发症。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of biomaterials and vascular therapies. This project may enable the exploration of arteriogenic therapeutics such as hydrogels, in clinical applications. The potential treatment may serve as a novel treatment option that is minimally invasive and provide an effective long-term solution. This hydrogel technology may also provide a learning opportunity for the medical field to better understand how therapeutics impact patient care and biological functions. For instance, use of the hydrogel has the potential to reduce the overall cost of care for patients, providers, and payors while improving patient quality of life.This I-Corps project is based on the development of an adaptable biomaterial that could be used to treat multiple indications. Better understanding the utility potential of such a technology would open doors future advanced arteriogenic therapies. This product may have the ability to grow large, smooth-muscle lined arterioles capable of handling bulk blood flow. Use of the proposed hydrogels could improve patient care and treatment of ischemic conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or stroke. The hydrogel is a polymer-based biomaterial containing an active peptide, which works to promote the growth and integration of new blood vessels. Minimally invasive relative to existing treatment options, injection of this hydrogel at sites of arterial occlusion may help to naturally restore blood supply to the effected tissues and prevent further complications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.