Plasma activated coating immobilizes apolipoprotein A-I to stainless steel surfaces in its bioactive form and enhances biocompatibility

Stainless steel stent surfaces have poor biocompatibility and induce thrombosis and restenosis, via smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Clinically this results in repeat interventions due to stent failure. Covalent attachment of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I to stainless steel surfaces using plasma activate coating (PAC) increases biocompatibility by suppressing thrombosis, reducing SMC attachment and proliferation and enhancing endothelialization. ApoA-I was also immobilized to PAC-coated murine stents and withstood pulsatile flow in vivo in a murine stent model. ApoA-I demonstrates the potential to improve stent biocompatibility. Our in vivo model enables delivery of apoA-I to the site of stent deployment for biological assessment.254