Biocompatible Carbon-Based Coating as Potential Endovascular Material for Stent Surface

Abstract EN

Stainless steel 316L is a material commonly used in cardiovascular medicine.

Despite the various methods applied in stent production, the rates of in-stent restenosis and thrombosis remain high.

In this study graphene was used to coat the surface of 316L substrate for enhanced bio- and hemocompatibility of the substrate.

The presence of graphene layers applied to the substrate was investigated using cutting-edge imaging technology: energy-filtered low-voltage FE-SEM approach, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

The potential of G-316L surface to influence endothelial cells phenotype and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) has been determined.

Our results show that the bio- and hemocompatible properties of graphene coatings along with known radial force of 316L make G-316L a promising candidate for intracoronary implants.