Drug-Eluting Stents and Balloons-Materials, Structure Designs, and Coating Techniques: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Controlled drug delivery is crucial for maintaining optimal therapeutic concentrations, particularly in treating cardiovascular diseases like obstructive arterial disease.
• Stents and balloon catheters are key medical devices, with recent advancements focusing on drug delivery capabilities.
• Drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-eluting balloons (DEB) represent significant progress in interventional cardiology and other medical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the developmental milestones of drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-eluting balloons (DEB).
• To examine advancements in the construction, materials, and preparation technologies of DES and DEB.
• To highlight the role of polymeric biodegradable materials and drug release coating technologies in these devices.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications and technological advancements in DES and DEB.
• Analysis of construction designs, material properties, and fabrication techniques.
• Evaluation of drug release coating methods and their efficacy.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in refining the design, structure, and materials of DES and DEB.
• Polymeric biodegradable materials are increasingly utilized in the production of these devices.
• Various methods for creating effective drug-eluting coatings have been developed and assessed.

Conclusions:

• DES and DEB are pivotal in managing coronary artery diseases and other conditions requiring localized drug delivery.
• Continued innovation in materials science and coating technology is driving the evolution of drug-eluting devices.
• The development of advanced DES and DEB offers improved therapeutic outcomes through controlled and sustained drug release.