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Development of a polymer stent with shape memory effect as a drug delivery system
H M Wache1, D J Tartakowska, A Hentrich
1Polymertechnik/Polymerphysik, Technische Universität Berlin, Fasanenstrasse 90, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
The article presents a new concept for vascular endoprothesis (stent). Almost all commercially available stents are made of metallic materials. A common after effect of stent implantation is restenosis. Several studies on metal stents coated with drug show, that the use of a drug delivery system may reduce restenosis. The purpose of this work is to develop a new stent for the drug delivery application. The shape memory properties of thermoplastic polyurethane allow to design a new fully polymeric self-expandable stent. The possibility to use the stent as a drug delivery system is described.