Electrocoating of stainless steel coronary stents for extended release of Paclitaxel

The purpose of this study was to examine chemical, mechanical and Paclitaxel release properties of the new coating onto the stainless steel coronary stents. Methods: Stainless steel coronary stents were coated with electrically polymerizable pyrrole derivative, applying cyclic voltammetry technique in a simple three electrode cell, while stent represented a working electrode. Resulted polymer coating were examined by cyclic voltammetry (electrical parameters), SEM (morphology images), goniometer (hydrophobisity of the surface), prophilometer ( thickness of the polymer coating). Polymer stability was examined by placing the coated stent into 1: 1 solution of fetal calf serum:seline solution up to I year and under the mouse skin for I week. Paclitaxel loading were carried out by immersion into drug solution and its release was detected by HPLC. Results and conclusion: Reproducible one step method for coating different pyrrole derivatives on stainless steel coronary stents provided thin (single micrometers), uniform coating with various morphology and hydrophobisity. These surface properties allow to load appropriate amount of Paclitaxel and to release it slowly up to a month. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.