Effect of specific surface microstructures on substrate endothelialisation and thrombogenicity: Importance for stent design.

Background: In coronary artery disease, highly stenosed arteries are frequently treated by stent implantation, which thereafter necessitates a dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in order to prevent stent-thrombosis. We hypothesized that specific patterns of microstructures on stents can accelerate endothelialisation thereby reducing their thrombogenicity and the DAPT duration.

Methods: Differently designed, 2-5 μm high elevations or hollows were lithographically etched on silicon plates, subsequently coated with silicon carbide.

Differences of platelet adhesion and thrombus activation on amorphous silicon carbide, magnesium alloy, stainless steel, and cobalt chromium stent surfaces.

Background: Coronary stenting is considered to be the gold standard of percutaneous coronary interventions, because stents are able to reduce early and late elastic recoil (negative remodeling) and restenosis in comparison with balloon angioplasty alone.

Objective: It is known that stent thrombogenicity and neointimal formation are determined by the surface characteristics of the stent platform, electrochemical features of the stent surface, and the degree of degradation after implantation. Metallic stents coated with amorphous silicon carbide and biodegradable stents made of magnesium alloy have been introduced clinically, but there are no data available comparing the biocompatibility of these novel stent materials with conventional stents.