Time course of reendothelialization with Polyzene-F nanocoated Cobra PzF™ coronary stent on rabbit iliac arteries.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nEvaluation of reendothelialization with a new thin struts cobalt chromium alloy stent coated with a nano-layer of Polyzene™-F (PzF) in a rabbit iliac artery model.\n\n\nMETHODS\nFifteen stented external rabbit iliac arteries were harvested at Day 7 for electron microscopy analysis following Cobra PzF stents implantation to assess reendothelialization and compare to historical data. Ten additional rabbits were used to assess time course of reendothelialization at 3 and 5\u202fdays.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAt Day 7, almost complete coverage of endothelial cells was observed with a coverage of 99.54\u202f±\u202f0.25% of the stented area. No thrombus area was noted. At Day 3, more than half of examined pieces was reendothelialized and reached 78.30\u202f±\u202f3.7% at Day 5 (p\u202f<\u202f.01 between each group). All stents were well expanded against the arterial wall and no struts were mal-apposed.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nReendothelialization was rapid and complete at Day 7. This is the fastest reendothelization process after stenting in this model. No stent occlusion was observed.