A novel heparin loaded poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) covered stent for aneurysm therapy

• The nanofibers with novel inner-structure had been fabricated with a single spinning nozzle.
• The multi-cores inner-structure in as-spun nanofibers is different from the conventional core-shell structure in coaxial nanofibers.
• The novel covered stent could effectively separate the aneurysm dome with bloodstream and immediately obliterate the aneurysm after stenting.
• The encapsulated heparin could avoid the formation of thrombus together with the structure of nanofibrous matrix.

The metallic stents covered with heparin loaded poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) nanofibers via emulsion electrospinning have been fabricated as a novel covered stent. The morphology and inner-structure of core–shell nanofibers were respectively ion observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The distribution of heparin aqueous solution and chemical component in nanofibers was separately determined by fluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The results showed that the nanofibrous matrix successfully encapsulated with heparin would not rupture with the expansion of metallic stent, which could effectively separate the aneurysm dome with bloodstream in the rabbit model. The aneurysm was immediately obliterated after the stenting and angiogram at 14 days follow-up showed that the aneurysm was still obliterated. No obvious stenosis and intima hyperplasia in parent artery were found. Therefore, this work provides a promising approach to fabricate covered stent for aneurysm treatment.