Magnetic nanoparticle loaded biodegradable vascular stents for magnetic resonance imaging and long-term visualization

Benefiting from their good biosafety and bioabsorbability, polymeric biodegradable stents (BDSs) have promising application prospects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, due to the low density of the polymer itself, it is difficult to visualize with medical imaging techniques such as CT and MRI, which leads to difficulties in accurate BDS localization and subsequent non-invasive evaluation. Therefore, modification of BDSs to adapt to monitoring techniques for clinical use without affecting their biocompatibility and mechanical properties is a promising strategy to support the clinical translation of BDSs. In this study, Fe₃O₄ superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesized to modify the BDS by ultrasonic spraying. Due to the T₂-weighted MR imaging enhancement capability of SPIONs, the fabricated SPION-BDS can be entirely visualized and long-term monitored under MR imaging. Further, a stent degradation assessment method based on the analysis of image gray value changes was established. In conclusion, the constructed SPION-BDS provides a possible solution for precise localization of BDSs after implantation, and furthermore, opens up opportunities for long-term non-invasive monitoring of in vivo BDS degradation and multimodal imaging assessment of vascular endothelial remodeling.