Biodegradable vascular stents: Structural design and anti-inflammatory performance

Biodegradable vascular stents hold promise for addressing restenosis caused by permanent metal stents, yet they still face critical bottlenecks, including immune rejection-mediated inflammatory responses and insufficient mechanical properties. This study proposes a 3D-printed biodegradable vascular stent design strategy that integrates mechanical performance with anti-inflammatory and anti-rejection properties. A helical stent with additional connecting ribs was designed. Finite element simulation and mechanical testing were used to characterize the stent's mechanical properties. Cell proliferation and scratch assays were conducted to screen the optimal concentration of spermidine-loaded hydrogel, followed by pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages to evaluate spermidine's anti-inflammatory efficacy. Results demonstrate that the designed helical stent exhibits excellent mechanical properties. Spermidine released from the coating significantly enhances cell viability and effectively suppresses immune rejection. This study provides a feasible technical pathway and theoretical foundation for the biomodification and structural optimization of degradable vascular stents.