Development and pre-clinical evaluation of biodegradable vascular stents based on magnesium alloys

(R. Rohde/Prof. B. Heublein, Leibniz Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs, Hannover Medical School)

This project is developing biodegradable and biocompatible stents based on magnesium alloys, working in collaboration with the industrial partner Biotronik GmbH, Berlin.

In initial experimental studies only few local inflammatory reactions were induced by the new alloys. The material is not thrombogenic. Several components with an intrinsic inhibitory effect on neointimal proliferation are released during degradation. As expected it could be shown that these stents gradually lost their mechanical integrity. The stented artery remained open, even after the magnesium core had lost its mechanical stability through degradation.

It is planned to combine these positive effects with a coating of a biodegradable biopolymer, thus creating a new type of carrier for local drug delivery applications (cp. project "Biopolymer covered stents").