title: Metallic zinc exhibits optimal biocompatibility for bioabsorbable endovascular stents.
abstract: Although corrosion resistant bare metal stents are considered generally effective, their permanent presence in a diseased artery is an increasingly recognized limitation due to the potential for long-term complications. We previously reported that metallic zinc exhibited an ideal biocorrosion rate within murine aortas, thus raising the possibility of zinc as a candidate base material for endovascular stenting applications. This study was undertaken to further assess the arterial biocompatibility of metallic zinc. Metallic zinc wires were punctured and advanced into the rat abdominal aorta lumen for up to 6.5months. This study demonstrated that metallic zinc did not provoke responses that often contribute to restenosis. Low cell densities and neointimal tissue thickness, along with tissue regeneration within the corroding implant, point to optimal biocompatibility of corroding zinc. Furthermore, the lack of progression in neointimal tissue thickness over 6.5months or the presence of smooth muscle cells near the zinc implant suggest that the products of zinc corrosion may suppress the activities of inflammatory and smooth muscle cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA. Electronic address: pkbowen@mtu.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Guillory
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Shearier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
authors.forename: Jan-Marten
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drelich
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bocks
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA. Electronic address: jgoldman@mtu.edu.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
keywords: Bioabsorbable; Biocompatible; Corrosion; Hyperplasia; Stent; Zinc