Biodegradable stents as a platform to drug loading

Int J Cardiovasc Intervent. 2003;5(1):13-6. doi: 10.1080/14628840304609.

Abstract

Despite technical and mechanical improvement in coronary stents the incidence of restenosis caused by in-stent neointimal hyperplasia remains high. Oral administration of numerous pharmacological agents has failed to reduce restenosis after coronary stenting in humans, possibly owing to insufficient local drug concentration. Therefore, drug-eluting stents were developed as a vehicle for local drug administration. The authors developed a new drug-eluting polymer stent that is made of poly-l-lactic acid polymer mixed with tranilast, an anti-allergic drug that inhibits the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor->1. Polymer stents might be superior to polymer-coated metallic stents as local drug delivery stents in terms of biodegradation and the amount of loaded drug. Drug-mixed polymer stents can be loaded with a larger amount of drug than can drug-coated metallic stents because the polymer stent struts can contain the drug. Clinical application is required to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting polymer stents against stent restenosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Polyesters*
  • Stents*
  • Swine
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Polyesters
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates
  • poly(lactide)
  • tranilast