Composite polymer/wax coatings as a corrosion barrier of bioresorbable magnesium coronary stents

Abstract

Magnesium and its alloys are suitable materials for biodegradable biomedical implants such as cardiovascular stents. Here we introduce an innovative composite polyelectrolyte multilayer/wax coating applied to commercial coronary Mg-based stents serving as a barrier layer effectively retarding corrosion. This hydrophobic coating, build by layer-by-layer technology, appeared very thin, smooth, homogeneous, strongly adherent and completely covering the surface of the Mg-stent. In-vitro degradation tests showed greater resistance to degradation of coated Mg-stents compared to uncoated and passivated ones. Cytocompatibility studies proved that Mg-stent coated with the composite coating was non-cytotoxic and improved fibroblast cell viability compared to the uncoated Mg-stent.

Keywords

• Magnesium alloy
• Mg-based stents
• Corrosion resistance
• In-vitro degradation
• Composite coatings