Drug free anti-cell proliferative and anti-platelet adhesion coating for vascular stents via polymeric electrospun fibers

Abstract

Vascular stenting is an effective way of reviving the circulation to the affected limb or organ. However, restenosis and platelet accumulation are still a recurring issue on the said biomedical device. Here, we present a way to prevent these issues by creating a drug free coating on vascular stents that prevent cellular and platelet adhesion. This is done via co-axial electrospinning of Poly-ethyl2-cyanoacrylate (PECA) and Polyurethane (PU). Utilizing the macrozwitterionic surface of the polymeric mat via the PECA shell and mechanical strength of the PU core. The drug-free stent coating (DFSC) polymer is characterized via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to analyse its morphology while tensile testing is provided to ensure adequate mechanical strength to prove that the material can withstand the radial force that the stent will provide to the mat. An in-vitro cell and platelet adhesion proved that the material repel biological elements even without addition of anti-platelet and anti-proliferative drugs.