Analysis of Vascular Mechanical Characteristics after Coronary Degradable Stent Implantation

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of vascular stress changes on endothelial function recovery and vascular restenosis inhibition, under the condition of dynamic degradation process of the degradable stent. METHODS: Fitting the material parameters of the hyperelastic vascular constitutive relationship, the stress distribution of the intima of the blood vessel before the stent was implanted and during the dynamic degradation was calculated by numerical simulation. In vitro culture experiments were carried out, and the stretch ratios of the silicone chamber were set to 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively, to simulate the effects of different degradation stages on the growth state of endothelial cells. RESULTS: After the stent was completely degraded, the circumferential intimal stress (strain) of the vessel was recovered to 0.137 MPa, 5.5%, which was close to the physiological parameters (0.122 MPa, 4.8%) before stent implantation. In vitro experiments showed that the endothelial cell survival rate was the highest under the condition of circumferential stress (strain) of 0.1 MPa, 5%, and all adhesion growth could be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: With the occurrence of degradation process of the stent, the circumferential stress (strain) of the intima was recovered to a range close to physiological parameters, which promotes the growth of endothelial cells. The recovery of intimal function can effectively inhibit the process of vascular restenosis. The results can provide a theoretical basis and experimental platform for the study of coronary intervention for the treatment of vascular restenosis.