TRIGGERED RELEASE MECHANISM TO IMPROVE EFFICACY OF DRUG COATED BALLOONS

1 . An angioplasty balloon comprising:

an inflatable balloon including a balloon surface; and

a coating on at least a portion of the balloon surface, wherein the coating includes an therapeutic agent, a first polymer, and a second polymer, the first polymer and the second polymer having different stereoisoisomeric forms;

wherein the first and the second polymer are capable of co-crystalizing to form a stereocomplex between the first and second polymers.

2 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of: an antiproliferative agent, an antimitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a platinum coordination complex, a hormone, an anticoagulant, a fibrinolytic agent, an antimigratory agent, an antisecretory agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, indole and acetic acids, an immunosuppressive agent, an angiogenic agent, an angiotensin receptor blocker, a nitric oxide donor, an anti-sense oligonucleotide, a cell cycle inhibitor, a retinoid, a cyclin/CDK inhibitor, an HMG co-enzyme reductase inhibitor, and a protease inhibitor.

3 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises paclitaxel.

4 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer comprises a first nanoparticle and the second polymer comprises a second nanoparticle, wherein the therapeutic agent is at least partially contained within at least one of the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle.

5 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer and second polymer each comprise a polylactide.

6 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer comprises isotatic poly(L-lactide) and the second polymer comprises isotatic poly(D-lacticde).

7 . A method for treating a target vascular portion of a subject, the method comprising:

providing an angioplasty balloon system including a balloon, the balloon carrying a first polymer, a second polymer, and at least one active agent on a surface of the balloon, the at least one active agent being at least partially contained within at least one of the first polymer and the second polymer, wherein the first polymer and the second polymer having different stereoisoisomeric forms that can co-crystalize to form a stereocomplex between the first and second polymers;

positioning the balloon proximate the target vascular portion;

expanding the balloon to engage the target vascular portion; thereby delivering at least a portion of the active agent to the target vascular portion; and

withdrawing the balloon from the subject.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising forming a stereocomplex between the first and second polymers, whereby the formation of the stereocomplex releases the active agent from the at least one of the first polymer and second polymer.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the stereocomplex is formed within one or more cells comprising the target vascular portion, whereby the formation of the stereocomplex releases a therapeutically effective amount of the therapeutic agent in the one or more cells.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first polymer comprises a first nanoparticle and the second polymer comprises a second nanoparticle, wherein the stereocomplex is formed by the first and the second polymers being driven together to form a third particle by stereocomplexation.

11 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of: an antiproliferative agent, an antimitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a platinum coordination complex, a hormone, an anticoagulant, a fibrinolytic agent, an antimigratory agent, an antisecretory agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, indole and acetic acids, an immunosuppressive agent, an angiogenic agent, an angiotensin receptor blocker, a nitric oxide donor, an anti-sense oligonucleotide, a cell cycle inhibitor, a retinoid, a cyclin/CDK inhibitor, an HMG co-enzyme reductase inhibitor, and a protease inhibitor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises paclitaxel.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first polymer and second polymer each comprise a polylactide.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first polymer comprises poly(L-lactide) and the second polymer particle comprises poly(D-lacticde).

15 . An angioplasty balloon comprising:

an inflatable balloon including a balloon surface; and

a coating on at least a portion of the balloon surface, wherein the coating includes a polymersome enclosing a therapeutic agent.

16 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 15 , wherein the polymersome comprises a polymeric membrane and at least one DNA nanopore, the DNA nanopore providing a pathway through the polymeric membrane.

17 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 16 , wherein the pathway through the polymeric membrane defines a lumen diameter of about 2 nm.

18 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric membrane comprises poly 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine-b-disisopropylamino) ethyl methacrylate.

19 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of: an antiproliferative agent, an antimitotic agent, an antiplatelet agent, an alkylating agent, an antimetabolite, a platinum coordination complex, a hormone, an anticoagulant, a fibrinolytic agent, an antimigratory agent, an antisecretory agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, indole and acetic acids, an immunosuppressive agent, an angiogenic agent, an angiotensin receptor blocker, a nitric oxide donor, an anti-sense oligonucleotide, a cell cycle inhibitor, a retinoid, a cyclin/CDK inhibitor, an HMG co-enzyme reductase inhibitor, and a protease inhibitor.

20 . The angioplasty balloon of claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises paclitaxel.