Modelling drug-eluting stents.

In this study, we consider a family of mathematical models to describe the elution of drug from polymer-coated stents into the arterial wall. Our models include the polymer layer, the media, the adventitia, a possible topcoat polymer layer and atherosclerotic plaque. We investigate the relative importance of transmural convection, diffusion and drug-dependent parameters in drug delivery and deposition. Furthermore, we investigate how the release rate from the stent can be altered and examine the resulting effect on cellular drug concentrations.