# Theranostic approach to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms

> **NIH NIH R01** · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $365,503

## Abstract

Project Summary
Abdominal Aortic aneurysms (AAA) are degenerative diseases characterized by destruction of arterial
architecture and subsequent dilation that may eventually lead to fatal ruptures. It is the 13th leading cause of
death in US.
Screening and early detection with elective surgical intervention is an effective way to decrease
mortality in
AAA f the diameter exceeds 5.5 cm for men or 5
, where rupture is the great threat to a patient's life. I
cm for women, surgical placement of vascular grafts is recommended. However; several small aneurysms may
rupture while some larger ones never do.
As many as 90% of detected AAAs are small and lack indications for
surgery; these patients are on “watchful waiting” without any treatment. Aortic diameter change with time is only
measure used to study progression of the disease.
 No method is available to determine the extent of damage to
the wall or which weakened and ballooned walls are at high-risk for aortic rupture. Neither is there any
pharmacological treatment to prevent AAA progression.
We have developed a novel nanoparticle (NP) delivery system that targets only degraded vasculature elastin, a
hallmark of early stage aneurysms. We have also discovered elastin stabilizing and regeneration potential of
polyphenol-pentagalloyl glucose (PGG).
We hypothesize that elastic lamina degradation can be measured by
site-specific targeting of gold nanoparticle to the degraded elastic lamina and that it will correlate with wall
strength and provide index for rupture potential. We further hypothesize that increasing the strength of the
aneurysmal aorta by stabilizing residual elastin and regenerating lost elastin will prevent expansion and ultimate
rupture of AAA.
Specific Aim 1 we will test the hypothesis that gold nanoparticles can be targeted to degraded elastic lamina
in vivo in three distinct animal models of AAA, and that microCT imaging will provide quantitative elastic lamina
damage assessment based on gold accumulation. In Aim 2 we will test test the hypothesis that albumin-based,
targeted nanoparticles will deliver PGG to the AAA site to stabilize elastic lamina and increase elastin-matrix
deposition, thus allowing AAA regression again in three distinct animal models of AAA.
In
Ours will be the first attempt to deliver imaging agents and drugs to AAA via nanoparticle-based targeting
systems. Our imaging study will provide estimation of local wall strength. This important information along with
wall stress determination from computational studies will be useful to predict future rupture of the aorta. If
successful, we also envision that drug targeting will halt AAA expansion and restore healthy aorta in patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9899294
- **Project number:** 5R01HL133662-04
- **Recipient organization:** CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Naren R Vyavahare
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $365,503
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9899294

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9899294, Theranostic approach to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (5R01HL133662-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9899294. Licensed CC0.

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