Angiopeptin-eluting stents: Observations in human vessels and pig coronary arteries

Local drug delivery from polymer-coated coronary stents may reduce the incidence of in-stent restenosis. Angiopeptin, an inhibitor of smooth muscle cell proliferation, may reduce the clinical impact of restenosis. The objectives of this study were to characterize the release kinetics and distribution of angiopeptin-loaded phosphorylcholine (PC)-coated drug delivery (DD) BiodivYsio stents and assess their safety and efficacy at reducing neointima formation. I125-angiopeptin-loaded DD-PC-coated stents were implanted into human saphenous vein segments ex vivo, and I125 angiopeptin was detected in the medial layer at 1 hour. When implanted in pig coronary arteries, I125 angiopeptin was found adjacent to the stent at intervals up to 28 days. No significant amounts were found elsewhere. To assess efficacy, twelve angiopeptin-loaded DD-PC-coated stents, twelve non-loaded DD-PC stents, ten standard PC-coated stents and 8 uncoated stents were implanted into normal porcine coronary arteries. Stents were harvested at 28 days and neointima formation was assessed by computerized morphometry. No adverse tissue reactions were seen with any of the PC-coated stents. No significant differences were seen in neointimal or luminal cross-sectional areas between study groups. Local delivery of I125 angiopeptin into the vascular wall can be achieved using a PC-coated stent. Delivery of angiopeptin from "drug delivery" PC-coated stents is safe, but does not lead to a significant reduction in neointimal growth at 28 days within the parameters of this study.