title: Effect of low voltage AC fields on cardiovascular implants.
abstract: Coronary Artery Stents have been the preferred form of treatment for vascular occlusive disease, due to the minimally invasive surgical procedure, post-operative recovery time and cost, when compared to open coronary bypass surgery. The cellular response upon applying an AC electric field to type 316LM Stainless Steel stent mimics was investigated in this paper. The highest RBC adhesion was observed at voltages higher than 88 mV and lower than 74 mV. Their unique alignment along the lines of fracture on the stent surface at 88 mV was a phenomenon caused by an increase in electrical conductivity in these regions. Being able to control RBC adhesion may have various clinical implications such as inhibition of thrombus formation, and provide a basis to analyse whether electric fields may be applied to cancer therapy as well.
authors.affiliation: Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK. Electronic address: anjana.kothandaraman.13@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kothandaraman
authors.affiliation: Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anson
authors.affiliation: Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006321:Heart; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012756:Sheep; D015607:Stents
keywords: AC; BMS; Cardiovascular; DES; Electric field; Endothelial cell; Implants; Late Stent Thrombosis; Red blood cell; Restenosis; Stent