# Nanoparticle- Infused Radiopaque Absorbable Medical Device

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $386,308

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular illness after acute coronary
syndrome and stroke. The first line of therapy for VTE is blood thinners; however, these agents are temporarily
contraindicated for many at-risk VTE patients, such as those with major trauma and those who undergo
complex surgeries, for whom bleeding is a concern. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are indicated in this
population. Most IVC filters (70%) are intended to be retrieved after their indicated use; however, only 19%-
30% are removed. Unfortunately, complications mount when IVC filters are not removed, which can be very
costly ($3,000-$12,000 for filter retrieval and ~$67,000 for treatment of complications). Therefore, resorbable
IVC filters were developed, which provide critical protection during their required duration and then simply
vanish from the body, thereby alleviating costly removal procedures and downstream complications. However,
an important limitation of a resorbable IVC filter system is significant clot burden. Monitoring the absorption
time and any significant clot burden with use of imaging techniques would greatly improve the efficacy of deep
vein thrombosis treatment.
 In this study, we will develop of radiopaque absorbable filters that can be routinely imaged to offer a
less expensive alternative to assessing filter integrity. Moreover, visualization of the filter under dual-energy
computed tomography (DECT) would facilitate discrimination between two or more materials, such as
nanoparticles (NPs), iodine, and calcium deposits, which could provide better image quality and quantification
of the materials present in the filter. Specifically, we propose to incorporate NPs (made up of gold, bismuth,
ytterbium, tantalum, tungsten, barium, and zirconium), into clinically available resorbable polydioxanone
(PPDO) suture, investigate the effect of NP infusion within PPDO sutures in terms of mechanical strength,
toxicity, and physico-chemical properties over a period of 10 weeks when subjected to human physiological
conditions, and perform large animal imaging study using optimized DECT parameters to determine
radiopacity, toxicity, and mechanical strength, as well as adverse reactions of image-enhanced suture during
necropsies. We will also develop a mathematical algorithm for DECT for the quantification of the different high
atomic (Z) number contrast materials infused within the PPDO.
 Our long-term goal is to develop a totally absorbable IVC filter, inexpensively deployed and monitored
by conventional imaging methods that prevents pulmonary embolism for the recommended prophylactic period
and then simply vanishes without intervention. The experiments outlined here will be critical to demonstrating
the feasibility of using NPs as radiopaque material for DECT imaging embedded within this medical device.
Successful development of imaging enhancers for IVC filters may also lead to widespread use of absorbable
device...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10199005
- **Project number:** 5R01HL141831-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Marites Pasuelo Melancon
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $386,308
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10199005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10199005, Nanoparticle- Infused Radiopaque Absorbable Medical Device (5R01HL141831-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10199005. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*