Intravascular Electroporation Markedly Attenuates Neointima Formation After Balloon Injury of the Carotid Artery in the Rat

The present study examined the use of electroporation (pulsed electric field application) to temporarily permeabilize vascular cell membranes and thereby deliver drugs directly into cells of the vessel wall to treat focal cardiovascular diseases (e.g., postangioplasty restenosis). A unique intravascular porous balloon electroporation catheter has been designed specifically to enhance drug uptake directly into the arterial wall. The effect of heparin on neointimal growth following balloon‐induced injury of the carotid arteries of rats was used as a measure of effective drug delivery. Histomorphometrical analysis of arteries showed that neointimal growth and lumen loss were significantly inhibited by heparin in combination with electroporation, but not by heparin delivered without electroporation. We conclude that the application of electroporation technology may be a viable approach to intramural drug delivery of potential therapeutic compounds for the treatment of neointimal growth and negative remodeling during postangioplasty restenosis.