Every year, millions of patients undergo angioplasty to restore their arterial circulation. This procedure may require the placement of an aortic endoprosthesis, such as a stent, which keeps the artery open. Despite the effectiveness of the approach, the risk of restenosis remains a concern. To reduce this risk, a team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) developed a new stent surface treatment technology that promotes vascular recovery.
Medical stents are widely used to treat vascular complications in millions of patients. A stent is in the form of a small mesh metal tube, which is inserted into the artery. Its main function is to reopen blood vessels that have been narrowed or blocked by cholesterol or atherosclerotic plaques. However, this physical expansion can damage vascular tissue, particularly endothelial cells. This cellular damage can, in turn, trigger inflammation.
In addition, mechanical forces applied by the stent can induce dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall. Damaged endothelial cells lose their anti-thrombotic properties and dedifferentiated smooth muscle cells contribute to the thickening of arterial walls. Together, these cellular responses can lead to restenosis (a further blockage of the artery), sometimes as early as a month after implantation. It therefore appears essential to design endoprostheses…Read more on Science and life
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