Design, development and characterisation of novel polymer and ceramic based coating technologies to control the degradation rates of magnesium alloys for stent applications

Permanent drug eluting stents remain the current gold standard for treatment of coronary artery disease. However, their permanent structure hinders vessel remodelling and there is a risk of late-stage thrombosis.

To overcome the challenges which these permanent stents pose, research has looked to bioresorbable materials as an alternative approach. <br>While research investigating Magnesium (Mg) based cardiovascular stents is at a less advanced stage compared to their polymer counterparts, clinical studies such as the BIOSOLVE trials (Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, Germany) have shown promising results. However, the greatest challenge to the development of an Mg based stent has been the control of rapid degradation rates. <br><br>Coating technologies and surface treatments to control degradation rates need to achieve appropriate corrosion protection without compromising on overall scaffold thickness or causing deleterious changes to the mechanical properties of the Mg backbone, which may lead to early failure due to embrittlement of the scaffold.