| abstract |
A local and site-specific drug delivery apparatus for delivering a drug to a specific site is characterized by the combination of a carrier material which reflects or absorbs or emits electromagnetic or mechanical (e.g. ultrasonic) vibrations enabling the monitoring of the material, a drug associated with the carrier material, and a local-delivery mechanism for delivering the carrier material and the drug to a specific site. The local-delivery mechanism may comprise a local-delivery catheter, such as a balloon-type catheter, and the drug delivery apparatus may additionally include a monitor for monitoring the delivery of the drug to the specific site, such as an ultrasonic imaging system. The drug delivery apparatus may also include a vibration generator for inducing release of the drug from the carrier material when the carrier material is at the specific site, such as a generator of ultrasonic energy. Alternatively, the local-delivery mechanism may comprise a targeting agent associated with the carrier material, the targeting agent capable of binding to the specific site within the individual. The targeting agent may be a protein or an antibody, such as a glycogen IIa/IIB receptor antibody, Von Willebrand's factor antibody, an antitumor antibody, hepatic cellular antibody, a white blood cell antibody, or antifibrin. |