The Need

Many mechanically mediated conditions such as vascular hypertension, glaucoma, and abdominal distension, present intermittent, unpredictable episodes that demand drug release only when symptoms emerge. Conventional platforms often leak at baseline, require external triggers, or cannot synchronize dose with pathophysiology, complicating stepwise dosing and combination regimens. A self‑contained, thresholded system that autonomously releases single or multiple therapeutics in response to clinically relevant strain would reduce overtreatment, side effects, and clinician intervention. This alignment with disease mechanics is a clear unmet need.

The Technology

OSU engineers have developed a strain‑activated, superhydrophobic drug‑eluting surface that remains inert under normal conditions, then releases payloads only when in‑plane tensile strain crosses a preset threshold. Mechanical deformation modulates surface wetting (Cassie→Wenzel) to expose drug on demand. Thresholds are tunable via surface geometry, enabling single‑agent dosing steps or simultaneous/sequential multi‑drug regimens. Long‑term immersion stability minimizes baseline leakage.

Commercial Applications

• Hypertension‑responsive drug‑eluting vascular grafts, stents, shunts, and wraps that dose only at pathological strain
• Glaucoma‑responsive ocular inserts or micro‑shunts that autonomously release when intraocular pressure surges
• GI implants, balloons, or catheters delivering therapeutics upon abdominal distension events
• Smart patches for musculoskeletal disorders that dose on movement‑induced strain

Benefits/Advantages

• Prevents baseline leakage and extends device life
• Aligns treatment intensity with symptom severity
• Supports stepwise dosing and combination therapy from a single compact surface
• Simple, surface‑based architecture is material‑agnostic and integrable with existing implant or device form factors
• Reduces need for external triggers or patient intervention