Researchers from CEMMPRE develop biodegradable polymer vascular stents
Representative optical images of stents after a tensile test (inset following the tensile test, an induced section was fractured to observe if the coating remained attached to the polymeric substrate) (bar = 2 mm)(in: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X24005322)
A research team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM) and the Department of Life Sciences (DCV) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) has developed an innovative approach to producing biodegradable vascular stents. These are medical devices used to keep arteries open after a blockage has been removed.
Ana Paula Piedade, professor at DEM and researcher at the Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Process (CEMMPRE) explains the advantage of this device instead of traditional metallic stents. According to this researcher, “metallic stents have a polymer coating that releases drugs to reduce adverse biological responses, the permanent metal structure can still trigger complications once the coating degrades, such as restenosis, which may lead to artery restenosis (when a new blockage occurs) and, in severe cases, heart failure. Additionally, some of the metals used in these devices have low cellular compatibility, increasing the risk of inflammatory reactions and potential toxicity," (University of Coimbra develops biodegradable polymer vascular stents).
The team used 3D printing and sputtering to produce these devices, which minimized material waste and used energy-efficient processes.
For further information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X24005322