Deployable 3D-Printed Vascular Stent with Surface-Catalysed Endogenous Nitric Oxide Generation.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes through the formation of vascular blockages, has become a major global healthcare challenge, with patient numbers expected to rise. Balloon-based angioplasty and stenting, the most common clinical treatments, have evolved over decades with advances in material biocompatibility, biodegradability, and device design. However, they still face critical issues such as tissue damage, inflammation, and restenosis, which can lead to implant failure and necessitate repeated surgeries, severely affecting patients' quality of life. To address the urgent need for a long-term stable stent system, we present a deployable 3D-printed vascular stent with surface-catalyzed endogenous nitric oxide (NO) generation (DSENO), offering a promising new direction for stent development. Unlike traditional stents, the DSENO can be deployed remotely using magnetic force and heat, eliminating the need for a catheter or balloon and thereby reducing the risk of tissue injury. Furthermore, its surface is modified to catalyze intracellular NO generation from endogenous S-nitrosothiols, which inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation to prevent restenosis.