Gel for Coronary Bypass

About 50% of coronary bypasses fail after a few years because of cell proliferating (hyperplasia) where the grafts attach to the artery. A drug, atorvastatin, in pill form is typically prescribed, but it appears that not enough of the drug reaches its target. Consequently, Swiss pharmacists and surgeons developed polymer microparticles containing atorvastatin and dispersed them in a gel that is swabbed onto the graft connections. This controlled release allows about a month’s time to inhibit cellular over-proliferation. MORE

Image Credit: University of Geneva and ScienceDaily.com