Electrophoretic Deposition of Chitosan/gelatin Coatings Containing a Bioactive Compound for Biodegradable Cardiovascular Stents
摘要
Cardiovascular stents are essential medical devices used to restore arterial flow. However, most current stents are permanent, which can lead to long-term complications such as inflammation, restenosis, and the inability to perform bypass surgeries at the implantation site. Biodegradable stents emerge as a promising alternative, particularly those based on iron alloys due to their low toxicity and good mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the slow degradation rate of pure iron has prompted the development of faster-degrading alloys such as Fe-Mn. To enhance endothelialization and mitigate oxidative stress caused by iron corrosion, we propose a functional surface coating that incorporates a bioactive antioxidant compound (“BC”) using electrophoretic deposition (EPD). This study aimed to generate chitosan–gelatin coatings containing BC on a FeMnCSi alloy using EPD at three conditions (15 V–3 min, 30 V–3 min, 30 V–6 min). Coatings were characterized by optical microscopy, ATR-FTIR, contact angle, adhesion (Tape test), and deposition yield. All conditions resulted in full surface coverage, good adhesion, and moderate hydrophilicity (optimal for cell interaction). FTIR confirmed the presence of the polymer matrix and BC. Deposition yield increased with voltage and time, making 30 V–6 min the most effective condition for maximizing BC incorporation while maintaining a thin coating suitable for stents. These results support the potential of chitosan-gelatin coatings to add biofunctionality to biodegradable Fe-based stents.