4D-Printed Intelligent Reconfigurable Occluder With Anti-Thrombotic and Rapid-Repairing Capabilities for Patent Foramen Ovale

Nowadays, the implantation of occluder is an effective approach for treating patent foramen ovale (PFO); however, the slow endothelialization poses significant complications associated with occlusion devices. Herein, a 4D-printed intelligent reconfigurable PFO occluder with pro-endothelialization, anti-thrombosis, and absorbability is designed. The combination of the occluder implantation and topical drug delivery of anti-thrombosis drugs offers a solution to stroke. The occluder is designed based on the biomimetic structure, facilitating the integration of mechanical response behavior compatible with cardiac tissue. In vitro degradation and in vivo histological examination demonstrate the bioabsorbability of the occluder, and the anti-thrombosis efficacy is preliminarily demonstrated through anti-thrombosis experiments. The effective expression of VWF and CD31 markers validates the superior pro-endothelial efficacy of the occluder. To summarize, the 4D-printed occluder in this work represents an accessible strategy to combat PFO through integrated occlusion and topical drug delivery.