Solvent-cast direct-writing as a fabrication strategy for radiopaque stents

Bioresorbable stents (BRS) potential in treating coronary heart disease is still to be further developed. Current trends include research with new polymeric materials, the need for thinner struts combined appropriate mechanical properties, radiopacity and optimized local drug delivery. This work presents a novel solvent-cast direct-write (SC-DW) printing system manufacture BRS onto rotating cylinder poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) poly(l-lactic-co-ɛ-caprolactone) (PLCL) inks. Printed were characterized terms of mechanical, thermal biological properties human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Expansion assays showed that withstood pressures at least 16 atm indirect cytotoxicity test indicated biocompatible. Polymeric inks modified addition 3 radiopaque agents, namely iodine, triiodobenzoic (TIBA) barium sulfate (BaSO4) render radiopaque. Subsequent characterization general increase strut thickness respect control PLLA or PLCL stents, which turn resulted higher resistance compression. Microcomputed tomography was used assess stents’ radiopacity, showing TIBA BaSO4-containing presented high X-ray attenuation values maintained their after months incubation time.