Mechanisms of drug loading and release kinetics.
In an effort to overcome the limitations of local drug delivery associated with the use of catheters, drug-loaded stents have been developed. Loading of such stents is achieved through either drug absorption (incorporation into a matrix) or drug adsorption (surface layering). The type of drug binding determines the elution profile/release kinetics of the drug, while the therapeutic target determines both the choice of drug used and the manner in which it is bound, i.e. eluting or non-eluting. While non-eluting stents have clinically reduced thrombotic complications following stent implantation, current experimental work concentrates on the use of eluting stents to combat restenosis.
Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. whelan@tch.fgg.eur.nl
D M
DM
Whelan
H M
HM
van Beusekom
W J
WJ
van der Giessen
D000042:Absorption; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006493:Heparin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers; D015607:Stents
D011108:Polymers; D006493:Heparin