Effectiveness of Biodegradable Magnesium Alloy Stents in Coronary Artery and Femoral Artery

Objectives

To access the biocompatibility, effectiveness, and safety of biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloy stent (BMAS) in the coronary artery and femoral artery.

Background

Atherosclerosis is a lesion of cardiovascular system, including the diseases in heart and blood vessels.

Methods

The aluminum (Al) and zinc (Zn)‐based BMAS was designed by cold drawing methods. Forty healthy immunized mongrel dogs were randomly divided into 8 groups. Five dogs who have not been treated with stent were included in control group. The other dogs were implanted with an absorbable magnesium (Mg) alloy in the coronary and/or femoral artery, and their artery angiography were observed at 7 time points (1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days; n = 5) follow‐up. Dogs from each cohort were sacrificed following angiography for pathology assessment. The histological response including inflammatory response, thrombosis, and intimal hyperplasia were analyzed by hematoxylin‐eosin staining. Lumen area (La), intimal hyperplasia area (IHa), and the ratio of IHa were calculated by image analysis software.

Results

The thin‐walled BMAS were designed and produced by cold‐drawing technology. Fifty‐one devices were implanted into coronary artery of 35 dogs successfully. During the follow‐up days, the angiography of coronary artery and femoral artery had confirmed that the lumen was clear and there were no elastic recoil and thrombosis. The stents were completely disappeared at 7 days after implantation. Moderate intimal hyperplasia was found at 14 days after implantation.

Conclusion

The BMAS stent proved to be of good biocompatibility, safety, and effectiveness. (J Interven Cardiol 2015;XXXX:XX–XX)