CeramStent2: novel ceramic-metal coatings for coronary implants to reduce local thrombotic events and to improve the hemocompatible behavior, mechanical stability and chemical long-time resistance

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Sabine Neuss-Stein; Privatdozentin Dr.-Ing. Karolina Schickle; Professor Dr. Felix Vogt
• Subject Area: Biomaterials ; Coating and Surface Technology ; Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405895710

In the first phase of the project, the coating process and the material composition were successfully developed. On the material side, the basic prerequisites for improving hemocompatibility were primarily created. It was shown that a graded composite coating with a high content of ceramic nanoparticles can be carried out. In terms of cell biology, endothelial cell cultures and platelet cultures were established and optimized, and cytotoxicity studies in accordance with ISO10993-5 were carried out with L929 mouse fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The joint development work in the first year of the project has already contributed to the patenting of the coating process. Hemocompatibility tests are currently running to validate the blood compatibility of the coated stent materials. The corresponding milestone from the previous application is expected to be reached after 21 months as planned or due to Corona with a slight delay. Based on the results of the current project, there is above all a need for further research with regard to research into new types of graded composite coatings by means of galvanic deposition and with regard to the activation of blood cells and their interaction on the ceramic-coated stents, as well as their influence on the phenotype of adjacent smooth muscle cells in vivo.Specific project goals are:1. Development and characterization of modern metal-ceramic coatings2. Grading of the ceramic nanoparticles, adaptation of the coating to the subsurface when the stent expands3. Analyzes of the influence of composite coatings on toxicity, adhesion andactivation of relevant cell types4. Establishment of ovine cell cultures in preparation for the in vivo large animal model5. Optimization of the composite coatings with a view to successfulEndothelialization6. Optimization of the composite coatings with a view to supporting thecontractile phenotype (rather than the synthetic phenotype) of smooth muscle cells7. In vivo experiments: Evaluation of the implantability of stent prototypes in the ApoE knockoutRat model8. In vivo tests: evaluation of stent effectiveness and safety

• DFG Programme: Research Grants