• Development of a Bioresorbable Drug-Eluting Stent with Organ-On-A-Chip Validation

This study was conducted to address the issue of restenosis following carotid artery stenting. Given the significant health impact of ischemic strokes and the prevalence of restenosis, developing a novel bioresorbable drug-eluting stent (BS-DES) is crucial. The use of organ-on-a-chip technology to validate the stent’s performance offers a novel approach that enhances the accuracy and relevance of the experimental findings.

A holistic methodology was adopted, encompassing design optimization, computational modeling, mechanical testing, and in vitro validation using organ-on-a-chip technology. The research included a comprehensive literature review, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, finite element analysis (FEA), various mechanical tests and particle tracking simulations. Additionally, in vitro experiments with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were conducted to assess drug elution efficacy.

The study concluded that the Hybrid A stent design is optimal, providing a balance between flexibility and radial stiffness while ensuring controlled drug elution and low wall shear stress due to its predominant closed cell structure in comparison to the other stents (Diamond and Hybrid C). The use of organ-on-a-chip technology enabled precise modulation of experimental parameters, thereby offering detailed insights into stent performance under realistic physiological conditions. This approach confirmed the efficacy of paclitaxel elution in inducing cell apoptosis, highlighting the potential of BS-DES in mitigating restenosis and improving patient outcomes.