title: Degradable, drug-eluting stents: a new frontier for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Center for Biomaterials, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Joachim@rutchem.Rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeltinger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents