Platelet responses and coagulation activation on polylactide and heparin–polycaprolactone‐L‐lactide ‐coated polylactide stent struts

Abstract Despite modern stent technology and effective antiplatelet therapy, metallic stents carry the risk of (sub)acute thrombosis. Our aim was to examine short‐term differences in platelet deposition and coagulation activation between biodegradable polylactide (PLA), heparin–polycaprolactone‐L‐lactide‐coated polylactide (hepa‐P(CL95/L‐LA5)‐PLA), and stainless steel (SS) stent struts. Gel‐filtered platelets (GFP) and platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) were labeled with 10 nM ³H‐serotonin. Platelet deposition was measured after incubation of the stent struts in human serum albumin‐coated wells at 37°C in either GFP or PRP. Platelet morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For coagulation activation, the stent struts were incubated in either PRP or platelet‐poor plasma (PPP), anticoagulated with D‐phenylalanyl‐L‐prolyl‐L‐arginine chloromethyl ketone (PPACK), followed by measurement of fibrinogen, thrombin time (TT), prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), and thrombin‐antithrombin complex (TAT). SS showed adherence of larger amounts of GFPs than did PLA at a platelet density of 300 × 10⁶/mL (p < 0.05). Furthermore, representative SEM studies showed more platelet spreading on SS than on PLA stent struts. Between PLA and SS, coagulation activity did not differ at any assessment. Based on prolonged TT values in plasma, the heparin coating strongly inhibited coagulation (p < 0.05). The values of soluble TAT and F1+2 for PLA were similar to those of controls, i.e., to incubated suspensions without a stent strut. In conclusion, when compared with stainless steel, both PLA and hepa‐P(CL95/L‐LA5)‐PLA appear hemocompatible as intravascular stent materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 785–791, 2003