• Researchers at KIST have developed a stent surface treatment technology using laser patterning, set to revolutionize heart surgeries.
• The technology promotes endothelial cell growth and slows down smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation, enhancing vascular recovery.
• The team applied nanosecond laser texturing technology to create wrinkle patterns on nickel-titanium alloy surfaces, preventing restenosis and promoting re-endothelialisation.
• The technology is expected to apply to biodegradable stents, improving treatment outcomes and reducing the risk of complications.

In a significant breakthrough, researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed a pioneering stent surface treatment technology using laser patterning. This innovative technology is set to revolutionize surgeries for heart diseases. Traditional metal stents have been known to cause restenosis, a re-narrowing of the artery due to excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation one month after implantation. However, this new technology controls vascular cell responses without the side effects of drugs.

The technology works by promoting endothelial cell growth while slowing down smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation in blood vessels. This holds promise for enhancing vascular recovery, especially when combined with chemical coating methods. Dr. Hojeong Jeon, a member of the research team at KIST, stated, "This study demonstrates the potential of surface patterns to selectively control vascular cell responses without drugs."

Revolutionizing Stent Surface Processing

The team applied nanosecond laser texturing technology that creates nano- and micro-scale wrinkle patterns on nickel-titanium alloy surfaces. These wrinkle patterns slow down the migration and morphological changes of smooth muscle cells caused by stent-induced vascular wall injury, thereby preventing restenosis. The wrinkle patterns also boost cellular adhesion, promoting re-endothelialisation to restore the vascular lining.

The effectiveness of the technology was validated via in vitro vascular cell studies and ex-vivo angiogenesis assays using foetal animal bones. The laser-textured metal surfaces created favourable environments for endothelial cell proliferation while effectively suppressing smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation and excessive growth. Notably, smooth muscle cell growth on the wrinkled surfaces was reduced by approximately 75 per cent, while angiogenesis increased more than two-fold.

Future Applications and Clinical Trials

The surface patterning technology is expected to apply not only to metal stents but also to biodegradable stents. In biodegradable stents, the patterns prevented restenosis and enhanced endothelialisation before dissolving. This improved treatment outcomes and reduced the risk of complications. The team is planning to conduct animal tests and clinical trials next.

The KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. It now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT through KIST's major project and the Future Promising Convergence Technology Pioneer Project.

Intravascular imaging can guide the management of ISR through multiple stages. It can help to optimize the stenting procedure by predicting and avoiding ISR. Once the ISR problem has set in, such modalities can help to identify the underlying mechanism. Finally, imaging can evaluate ISR treatment results.

Silane-based coating has excellent biocompatibility and can be excreted by the urinary system. Silane can be bonded with the metal surface by Si-O-metal bonds, and then self-crosslink via the formation of siloxane bonds, as to form an anti-corrosion coating. Liu et al. carried out simple two-step reactions by self-assembly technology to pretreat MgZnYNd alloy with silane before the PLGA coating.

In 1993, a key report involving the study of the Caenorhabditis elegans roundworm and showing downregulation of the LIN-14 protein by a small transcript namely lin-4 through antisense interaction between RNAs due to sequence complementarity between lin-4 and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the lin-14 mRNA suggested a novel gene silencing mechanism affecting protein levels. Different studies show that miRNAs orchestrate a wide network of cellular activities and are deeply involved in almost every biological pathway, regulating processes such as cell division and apoptosis, metabolism, intracellular signaling, immune response and cell movement. Similarly, miRNAs have been associated with restenosis-related processes, such as VSMC proliferation, migration and neointima formation, revealing the great potential for diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutics or additional clinical manipulation.

In conclusion, this groundbreaking development in stent surface treatment technology holds immense potential for revolutionizing heart surgeries. By controlling vascular cell responses without drug side effects, promoting endothelial cell growth, and preventing restenosis, this technology could significantly enhance patient outcomes and reduce complications. As the team at KIST prepares for animal tests and clinical trials, the medical community eagerly awaits the results, hopeful for a new era in heart disease treatment.

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