title: The future of drug-eluting stents.
abstract: This review aims to provide a glimpse into the future of drug-eluting stents (DES). Since their arrival in 2002, DES have transformed the practice of interventional cardiology by drastically reducing restenosis and the need for repeat revascularization. However, data about the potentially fatal long-term risk of stent thrombosis have spurred on research and development to improve upon the first generation of devices. The initial commercially available DES used a stainless steel platform coated with a permanent polymer to provide controlled release of the anti-restenotic drug. The platform, polymer and drug are all targets for improvement. More advanced metallic and fully biodegradable stent platforms are currently under investigation. The permanent polymer coating, a likely contributor adverse events, is being superseded by biocompatible and bioabsorbable alternatives. New drugs and drug combinations are also a research goal, as interventional cardiologists and the industry strive towards safer anti-restenotic DES.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kukreja
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onuma
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D008670:Metals