Pharmacokinetic Advantage of ASD Device Promote Drug Absorption through the Epicardium

Purpose Due to low therapeutic efficacy and severe adverse reaction of systemic administration for coronary heart disease (CHD) therapy, we designed a novel local target delivery system, called Active hydraulic ventricular Support Drug delivery system (ASD). This study aims to investigate the potential advantages of ASD compared to intrapericardial (IPC) injection and factors affecting drug absorption through epicardium. Methods Liposoluble, water soluble and viscous solutions of cyanine 5 (Cy5) fluorescent dye were delivered individually through ASD and IPC in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and then tissues were isolated and observed by in vivo imaging system. Atria and ventricles of the heart were taken for the paraffin section and observed under a fluorescence microscope. Results The fluorescence intensity of Cy5 injected by ASD distributed in the heart was significantly higher than IPC injection. Whereas, the fluorescence signal spread in other tissues such as lung, liver, spleen, and kidney of ASD groups was much weaker. Moreover, when choosing liposoluble and viscous Cy5, the intensity of the heart turned stronger and fluorescence dye distributed in other tissues was lesser. Conclusions The application of ASD device may provide a promising route of drug delivery for CHD. Furthermore, increasing viscosity of the solution and liposolublity of the drug was beneficial to facilitate drug absorption through the epicardium.