Advances in Coronary Stent Technology - Active Drug-Loaded Stent Surfaces for Prevention of Restenosis and Improvement of Biocompatibility

Title:Advances in Coronary Stent Technology - Active Drug-Loaded Stent Surfaces for Prevention of Restenosis and Improvement of Biocompatibility

Volume: 14 Issue: 1

Author(s): Katrin Sternberg, Niels Grabow, Svea Petersen, Werner Weitschies, Claus Harder, Huseyin Ince, Heyo K. Kroemer and Klaus-Peter Schmitz

Affiliation:

Keywords: Stent, drug-eluting stent, absorbable stent, drug relelease, in situ endothelialization, stent coating

Abstract: Beyond their originally sole mechanical function, current drug-eluting stents (DES) implement the concept of local drug delivery for the re-opening of stenotic arterial vessels, and for prevention of in-stent restenosis as one of the major limitations of conventional bare metal stents (BMS). Current DES consist of a permanent metallic stent platform and an active agent being released from a drug-incorporated polymer coating or a porous stent surface. Although DES have impressively demonstrated their capability of reducing in-stent restenosis, their safety remains under debate due to potential risks, such as delayed healing, late thrombosis and hypersensitivity demanding further development. Current advancements in the stent design address the stent platform, the pharmacologically active substance and/or the drug carrier. For instance, novel biocompatible absorbable stent platforms and drug carriers are developed and novel drugs with a differential effect on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, providing efficient inhibition of muscle cells without altering the endothelial cell function, are identified. Moreover, biofunctionalization of the stent’s surface with capture molecules for endothelial progenitor cells are under investigation in order to achieve an in situ endothelialization of the implant.

Cite this article as:

Sternberg Katrin, Grabow Niels, Petersen Svea, Weitschies Werner, Harder Claus, Ince Huseyin, K. Kroemer Heyo and Schmitz Klaus-Peter, Advances in Coronary Stent Technology - Active Drug-Loaded Stent Surfaces for Prevention of Restenosis and Improvement of Biocompatibility, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2013; 14 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201011314010011