Cellular behavior of neointima-like cells onto Vitamin E-enriched poly(d,l)lactic acid

In-stent restenosis is a process that occurs in 10–50% of cases currently treated with stent and it is caused by an abnormal smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration in the vascular lumen. One of the most promising strategy to reduce restenosis is stent coating with biodegradable polymers to deliver in situ anti-proliferative drugs. Poly(d,l)lactic acid (P(d,l)LA), one of the most interesting candidate for stent coating, has been observed to induce inflammation and neointimal proliferation. In our laboratory, we developed P(d,l)LA enriched with Vitamin E (Vit.E), an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory agent that reduces also SMC proliferation. In order to evaluate the in vitro cellular behaviour of neointima cells onto Vitamin E-enriched P(d,l)LA, cell adhesion and proliferation along with the expression of two SMC migration markers (MMP-9 and hyaluronic acid receptor CD44) were measured in rat vascular SMC A10 cells seeded onto control P(d,l)LA (PLA) and P(d,l)LA films containing 10–30% (w/w) Vit.E (PLA10–30). Cell adhesion, proliferation and MMP-9 production were unaffected by the Vit.E presence in the PLA films after 24 h, while proliferation was slowed or blocked after 48 and 72 h onto PLA10, 20 and 30. MMP-9 production was almost blocked and CD44 density decreased significantly after 72 h for cells grew onto PLA30 compare to cells seeded onto PLA. These data indicate that Vit.E-enriched P(d,l)LA could be an interesting polymer for stent coating.