Degradable, drug-eluting stents: a new frontier for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
This article reviews the clinical use of stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease and the rationale for the use of degradable, drug-eluting polymer stents. The authors note the challenges of using off-the-shelf polymers for the development of degradable stents, as well as the interplay between polymer properties and a functional stent design. Drug-eluting metal stents are the most significant advancement in the treatment of coronary artery disease, and have significantly reduced the occurrence of in-stent restenosis after placement. Some regard drug-eluting metal stents as the final technologic advancement in the treatment of coronary artery disease, others consider the future development of degradable, drug-eluting stents as the next logical step.
Kohn
Joachim
J
New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Joachim@rutchem.Rutgers.edu
Zeltinger
Joan
J
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents