Local miR-29b inhibition using drug eluting balloons to block abdominal aortic aneurysm progression

The standard therapy is an open or catheter-based surgical procedure to insert vascular supports, so-called stents. It requires rapid intervention and is associated with intensive follow-up and a high long-term complication rate. Among other factors, a microRNA, miR-29b, is involved in damage to the vessel wall. Microribonucleic acids are attractive targets for therapeutic approaches. In previous investigations using animal and cell culture models, the team demonstrated that miR-29b inhibitors can prevent the development of vascular sacculation. In this project, the feasibility and safety of genetically modified mini-pigs, which serve as animal models for atherosclerosis and advanced vascular diseases, will be investigated. The inhibitor will be delivered directly to the damaged vascular wall via a drug-eluting balloon catheter. This will provide evidence for a possible therapy to limit the progression of aneurysms and reduce the risk of their acute rupture.