Nanoparticle Drug- and Gene-eluting Stents for the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Restenosis

Abstract

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become the most common revascularization procedure for coronary artery disease. The use of stents has reduced the rate of restenosis by preventing elastic recoil and negative remodeling. However, in-stent restenosis remains one of the major drawbacks of this procedure. Drug-eluting stents (DESs) have proven to be effective in reducing the risk of late restenosis, but the use of currently marketed DESs presents safety concerns, including the non-specificity of therapeutics, incomplete endothelialization leading to late thrombosis, the need for long-term anti-platelet agents, and local hypersensitivity to polymer delivery matrices. In addition, the current DESs lack the capacity for adjustment of the drug dose and release kinetics appropriate to the disease status of the treated vessel. The development of efficacious therapeutic strategies to prevent and inhibit restenosis after PCI is critical for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The administration of drugs using biodegradable polymer nanoparticles as carriers has generated immense interest due to their excellent biocompatibility and ability to facilitate prolonged drug release. Despite the potential benefits of nanoparticles as smart drug delivery and diagnostic systems, much research is still required to evaluate potential toxicity issues related to the chemical properties of nanoparticle materials, as well as to their size and shape. This review describes the molecular mechanism of coronary restenosis, the use of DESs, and progress in nanoparticle drug- or gene-eluting stents for the prevention and treatment of coronary restenosis.

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most industrialized nations and is of growing concern in developing countries ¹. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CAD will be one of the four leading causes of death in the world in 2030. Global cardiovascular deaths will increase from 17.1 million in 2004 to 23.4 million in 2030 ². CAD mainly results from coronary atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition whereby the arteries become narrowed and hardened due to an excessive build-up of plaque around the artery wall. Removal of the atherosclerotic plaque is currently performed by invasive techniques, such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), atherectomy, and stenting. However, all of these techniques can trigger a process known as restenosis whereby the vessel closes upon itself again via a different mechanism than the original injury. Systemic therapy, using antiproliferative and anti-thrombotic drugs, has proven ineffective for this condition ^3,4. Systemic therapy may be unable to deliver sufficiently high drug concentrations at the injury site without causing serious side-effects in non-target tissues ⁵. To overcome this problem, the insertion of a bare-metal stent (BMS) at the time of the intervention has been undertaken to prevent elastic recoil and reduce the incidence of restenosis ⁶. However, several limitations and side-effects have been associated with coronary stenting. First, stents cause permanent physical irritation with the risk of long-term endothelial dysfunction or inflammation ⁷. Second, stents are highly thrombogenic ⁸. Third, stents prevent the vessel from remodeling and functioning in a normal physiological manner ⁹. Finally, stents create difficulties for future bypass surgery and noninvasive imaging. Thus, efforts have been directed toward achieving local drug delivery to the injured blood vessel at the time of intervention using drug-eluting stents (DESs) in which a drug is released from a polymer coating or loaded directly onto the stent ¹⁰. Drug release at the site of vascular injury achieves an effective local concentration of the drug for a certain period of time while simultaneously avoiding systemic toxicity. Although the first-generation DESs have been demonstrated to be more effective than BMSs in reducing vascular restenosis by suppressing smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, their safety has been limited by suboptimal polymer biocompatibility, delayed stent endothelialization leading to late and very late thrombosis, and local drug toxicity. These findings may be partly explained by the nonselective inhibition of both endothelial cell (EC) and SMC proliferation by the antiproliferative drugs eluted from DES. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel and efficacious methods of circumventing the problems seen with BMSs and DESs, and nanoparticle drug- and gene-eluting stents hold much promise ¹¹. This article reviews the molecular mechanism of coronary restenosis, the use of DESs, and advances in nanoparticle drug- or gene-eluting stents for the prevention and treatment of coronary restenosis.

Coronary stenosis and restenosis

Coronary stenosis

Coronary stenosis (Figure 1) is a condition in which a coronary artery becomes tapered and backed up with materials such as fat or cholesterol, typically due to coronary atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease characterized by calcification and the build-up of fatty deposits, cellular debris and cholesterol in arteries, resulting in stenosis (narrowing) of the vessels ¹². If this process occurs in coronary arteries, the insufficient delivery of oxygenated blood to the heart manifests as cardiac ischemia (angina pectoris). Unstable lesions can rupture and trigger thrombosis, which may result in myocardial infarction (a heart attack) ¹³.

Figure 1.

Coronary atherosclerosis and coronary stenosis.

Coronary restenosis

Coronary restenosis (Figure 2) represents the reoccurrence of stenosis, or a narrowing of a coronary artery, leading to restricted blood flow. Restenosis is considered a local vascular manifestation of the general biological response to injury ¹⁴. PTCA-induced restenosis is thought to involve primarily negative remodeling and, in part, neointimal hyperplasia ¹⁵. Vascular remodeling occurs naturally in the process of atherosclerosis. Human coronary arteries often enlarge in response to plaque formation as a compensatory response that limits narrowing of the vessel lumen (positive remodeling) ¹⁶. Positive remodeling can occur after PTCA, but negative remodeling (i.e., lumen loss due to vessel constriction rather than to neointimal thickening) can also ensue, contributing to restenosis ¹⁷. The pathogenesis of restenosis can be divided into four phases, which can take place from hours to weeks and months after PTCA: 1) early elastic recoil; 2) mural thrombus formation; 3) neointimal proliferation with extracellular matrix formation; and 4) chronic geometric arterial changes (months) ¹⁸.

Figure 2.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary restenosis.

In-stent restenosis

In-stent restenosis (ISR, Figure 3), the narrowing of a previously stented coronary artery lumen, is one of the most concerning issues complicating coronary stent implantation. ISR can be defined clinically or angiographically. Clinically it is defined as the presentation of recurrent angina or objective evidence of myocardial ischemia, whereas angiographic ISR is the presence of > 50% diameter stenosis in the stented segment at angiography follow-up ¹⁹. Traditionally, ISR has been classified on the basis of length of restenosis in relation to the stented length. Four types of ISR have been defined: I) focal (≤ 10 mm length); II) diffuse (ISR > 10 mm within the stent); III) proliferative (ISR > 10 mm extending outside the stent); and IV) occlusive ISR. Type I has been further subdivided into types IA to ID based on the site of focal ISR in relation to the stent ²⁰. An additional type of ISR has been proposed, that of “aggressive ISR,” defined as ISR that is longer and/or more severe than the original lesion. This type is noteworthy in that the clinical course is not benign, with these patients more likely to develop more severe symptoms and higher rates of myocardial infarction ²¹. Restenotic lesions caused by stents and angioplasty are very different at the molecular level, although clinically the pathological outcome is the same ²². Restenosis caused by balloon angioplasty is attributed to three different factors: the elastic response that occurs after the overstretching of the vessel, neointimal hyperplasia, and negative remodeling ²². Neointimal formation associated with balloon angioplasty is primarily formed by the adventitia, with some proliferation of the media layer. Stent-induced restenosis is primarily caused by SMC proliferation and accumulation in the intimal layer, leading to neointimal growth ²³. Vascular remodeling in this case is not as defined as in balloon-induced injury ²⁴. Compared to restenosis after balloon angioplasty, the pathophysiology of ISR is also different, with a more profound cellular and proliferative response and less thrombogenic potential.

Figure 3.

Stenting and coronary in-stent restenosis.

Molecular mechanism of restenosis

The cell types involved in the restenotic process are well documented. There are three primary layers in a healthy blood vessel. The tunica intima or intimal layer is the innermost layer and is in contact with the blood flowing through the artery. This layer consists primarily of ECs. Adjacent to the intimal layer is the tunica media or medial layer, consisting of primarily SMCs. This layer is responsible for the vascular tone. The outermost layer is the tunica adventitia or adventitial layer, consisting of primarily collagen, to provide structure and elasticity. Balloon inflation fractures the atherosclerotic plaque, invoking platelet adhesion, aggregation and activation. Activated platelets release various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, which initiate SMC proliferation, leukocyte recruitment and activation of the coagulation cascade (Figure 4). SMCs undergo a phenotypic modulation from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype (dedifferentiation), proliferate into the media, migrate from the media into the intima, and subsequently form the neointima. Various inflammatory cells such as monocytes, T-cells and a small number of B-cells are also recruited ²⁵. There is a degree of similarity between restenosis and wound healing. Analysis of the extracellular matrix of a restenotic lesion reveals hyaluronan and collagen, which are also both involved in the wound healing process ²⁶.

Figure 4.

Rabbit restenotic model developed by balloon-injured abdominal aorta and high cholesterol diet. (A), normal abdominal aorta (Hematoxylin staining × 100); (B), restenotic abdominal aorta. The intima and media were significantly thickened (Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen × 100); and (C), restenotic abdominal aorta. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and various inflammatory cells were found in the thickened intima (Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen × 100).

There are a number of growth factors and cytokines that play a role in restenosis. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A and B, insulin like growth factors (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) are produced by SMCs and are responsible for the SMC proliferation ²⁷. Additionally, PDGF A and B, released from SMCs, platelets, and ECs, are responsible for SMC migration. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is responsible for endothelialization and angiogenesis. The cytokines involved in restenosis are monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, serotonin, and thromboxane A2 ²⁷. These cytokines, which are present early in the process, are responsible for monocyte and neutrophil recruitment and are derived from a number of cells such as macrophages, SMCs, ECs, fibroblasts, T-cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The cytokine signals are key indicators of an inflammatory response at the site of damage. Another molecular signal associated with inflammation and restenosis is the β₂-integrin molecule Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), which is responsible for monocyte recruitment ²¹. At the same time, the expression of mitogenic proto-oncogenes such as c-fos, c-jun, fosB, junB, and junD in the SMCs is increased ²⁸. In addition to the inflammatory factors mentioned, other proteins or enzymes are effected by restenosis, including p27, p70, p16, and collagen ²⁹.

Traditional and nanoparticle drug-eluting stents

Therapeutic drugs

There are many ways to treat coronary stenosis and restenosis. Drugs with anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombogenic, antiproliferative and immunosuppressive characteristics are all candidates for use in DES, which aim to prevent stent restenosis. Drugs with the above-mentioned characteristics may inhibit one or more pathways associated with restenosis ³⁰. A variety of different drug classes have been employed for the prevention of SMC growth and proliferation. These drugs include SMC growth inhibition agents: cytarabine, doxorubicin, vincristine ³¹, dalteparin sodium, cyclosporine A, colchicines, etoposide ³², sirolimus (rapamycin) ³³, paclitaxel ³⁴, and ceramide ³⁵; antiplatelet drugs: cilostazol, eptifibatide and tirofiba ^36,37; potential anti-inflammatory agents: clodronate, pamidronate, alendronate, and ISA-13-1 ^38,39; PDGF receptor specific drugs: tyrphostin (AG-1295 and AGL-2043) ^40,41; and others: estrogen ⁴², troglitazone ⁴³, tranilast ⁴⁴, valsartan ⁴⁵, statins ⁴⁶, heparin, hirudin ⁴⁷; and the Fab fragment inhibitor abciximab ³⁷. Six Limus family-related drugs are currently being studied in DESs, namely sirolimus, everolimus, biolimus A9, zotarolimus, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus. Sirolimus, everolimus, biolimus A9, and zotarolimus all bind to the FK binding protein 12 (FKBP12), which subsequently binds to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and thereby blocks the cell cycle of SMCs, mainly at the transition from the G1 to the S phase. The mechanisms of action of tacrolimus and pimecrolimus differ. Both drugs bind to FKBP506. The tacrolimus/pimecrolimus FKBP506 complex subsequently inhibits the calcineurin receptor, which leads to decreased cytokine expression on the cell surface membrane and results in an inhibition of T-cell activation and lower SMC selectivity (Figure 5).

Figure 5.

Mechanisms of action of six Limus family-related drugs (sirolimus, everolimus, biolimus A9, zotarolimus, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus) and paclitaxel. (A), sirolimus, everolimus, biolimus A9, or zotarolimus forms a complex with the cytoplasmic protein FKBP12. The complex inhibits the growth factor-stimulated phosphorylation of two proteins, the p70 s6 kinase and 4E-BP1. The phosphorylation of those two proteins is controlled by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). (B), tacrolimus or pimecrolimus binds to FKBP506, forming a complex, which binds to and blocks calcineurin. The complex inhibits the activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), thus preventing its entrance into the nucleus and inhibiting T-cell activation. (C), paclitaxel is a microtubule inhibitor. It binds to β-tubulin proteins in the mitotic spindle, rendering them non-functional and thereby inhibits cell division in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; FGF, fibroblast growth factor; FKBP, FK binding protein; G0, G0 phase (resting phase); G1, G1 phase (cell enlarges and makes new protein); G2, G2 phase (preparation for division); M, M phase (cell division or mitosis); S, S phase (DNA replication).

Sirolimus (rapamycin)

The first of the Limus family drugs used on endovascular prosthesis was sirolimus, a natural macrocyclic lactone that binds to specific cytosolic proteins called FKBP12 that block G1 to S cell cycle progression by inhibiting the activation of a protein known as mTOR ^48,49. This step also suppresses cytokine-driven T-cell proliferation (Figure 5A). Sirolimus is an immunosuppressive and antiproliferative drug that is traditionally used to prevent organ transplant rejection. Several successive studies confirmed the efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stents ^50,51. Novolimus is a metabolite of sirolimus and represents another new antiproliferative mTOR inhibitor specifically developed for the stents. The newly developed novolimus-eluting stents have been tested in a clinical study, demonstrating superiority over zotarolimus-eluting stents with regard to angiographic in-stent late loss ⁵².

Everolimus

A second derivative of the Limus family is everolimus, a sirolimus analog with a single minimal alteration in its molecular structure (position 40) without a chemical modification of the mTOR binding domain. Everolimus, like rapamycin, blocks growth factor derived cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle at the G1 to S phase (Figure 5A). More specifically, at the cellular level, everolimus forms a complex with the cytoplasmic protein FKBP12. The complex inhibits the growth factor-stimulated phosphorylation of two proteins involved in the initiation of protein synthesis, the p70 s6 kinase and 4E-BP1. The phosphorylation of these two proteins is controlled by mTOR. This detail indicates that everolimus interferes with the same pathway as does sirolimus. However, the everolimus effect is not restricted to T-lymphocytes, but potentially affects other cells, such as SMCs ^53,54. Of note, when implanted in rabbit iliac arteries, everolimus-eluting stents demonstrate more rapid endothelialization than do sirolimus-, zotarolimus-, or paclitaxel-eluting stents, as shown by the complete endothelialization of the struts with cd31 exhibition (antigen surface marker of good endothelial functionality) in the cells at 14 days ⁵⁵.

Zotarolimus

A third descendant of the Limus family used on coronary stents, also with a change on position 40, is zotarolimus (ABT-578). Zotarolimus is a tetrazole-containing macrocyclic immunosuppressant and potent antiproliferative agent. It inhibits the protein phosphorylation events associated with mRNA translation and cell cycle control (Figure 5A). However, zotarolimus is suggested to have higher tissue retention compared with the sirolimus-eluting stent. Of note, recent data on endothelial function after stent placement in porcine coronaries showed normally functioning endothelium at 1 and 3 months after zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation ⁵⁶.

Biolimus A9

Biolimus A9 is also a sirolimus derivative that inhibits growth factor-driven cell proliferation, such as T-cells and vascular SMCs (Figure 5A). In addition to its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potential and improved pharmacokinetic profile, the increased lipophilicity of biolimus A9 improves uptake by the coronary vessel wall, resulting in a more localized effect and lower systemic drug exposure ⁵⁷ than sirolimus eluted from the Cypher® stent ^58,59. Compared with first-generation DESs, biolimus A9-eluting stents have been shown to be associated with better recovery of endothelial function in coronary arteries, a finding that could be partly explained by the better drug release kinetics ⁶⁰.

Tacrolimus

Tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf) is a water-insoluble macrolide immunosuppressant produced by Streptomyces tsukubaensis. It has been widely used to reduce the incidence and severity of allograft rejection after organ transplantation and to treat other inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Tacrolimus is a noncytotoxic T cell inhibitor that maintains cells in the G0 or resting phase. In this situation, cells are able to function but unable to replicate. The end result of tacrolimus is a reduction in the activation of cytokine genes (Figure 5B). In contrast to sirolimus, tacrolimus demonstrates far more potent inhibition of SMCs than of ECs ^9,61. The JUPITER II trial investigated the safety and efficacy of the Janus^TM tacrolimus-eluting carbostent compared to the bare metal Tecnic^TM carbostent. A total of 332 patients were enrolled in 17 European centers and randomized to either the Janus^TM tacrolimus-eluting carbostent (166 patients) or the bare metal Tecnic^TM carbostent (166 patients). Early clinical outcomes demonstrated low major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates in both groups. These results were sustained up to 6 months in follow-up ⁶².

Pimecrolimus

Although a part of the Limus family, pimecrolimus does not block mTOR and inhibits EC proliferation to a much lesser degree (Figure 5B) ⁶³. The safety and efficacy of a pimecrolimus-eluting stent have been evaluated in a porcine coronary model and in a phase I clinical trial. At 28 days and 3 months in the porcine model, histopathologic indicators predicted safety and biocompatibility when stents coated with polymer only, drug only, and 2 drug-polymer formulations were compared with BMS. In the phase I clinical trial, 15 patients had successful implantation of pimecrolimus-eluting stents. By 6 months, no patient had suffered death, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis. However, the angiographic restenosis prevalence (61%), mean late loss (1.44 mm), and repeat target lesion revascularization prevalence (53%) were significantly higher than those of historical BMS controls. Whereas the primary end point was percent volume obstruction, restenosis was so severe that the operators performed intravascular ultrasound examination in only 6 patients ⁶⁴. These results suggest that pimecrolimus-eluting stents induced an exaggerated neointimal hyperplasia at 6 months in comparison with historical controls.

Paclitaxel

A non-Limus family-related drug widely studied for its efficacy in coronary stents is paclitaxel. Its effect has been mainly explained by its ability to stabilize microtubules and thereby inhibit cell division in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases ⁶⁵. Additionally, paclitaxel affects cell motility, shape, and transport between organelles (Figure 5C). Two delivery methods have been used in clinical trials, either with or without a polymer carrier. In the pivotal US trial DELIVER 1, paclitaxel was loaded without a polymer. No significant benefit was observed in the treated group, and the stent was not commercialized ⁶⁶. Boston Scientific Corporation pursued the development of paclitaxel stents eluted from a polymeric carrier. The randomized TAXUS I trial evaluated the safety of the TAXUS^TM-NIRx^TM stent system ⁶⁷ and was followed by TAXUS II ⁶⁸, TAXUS IV ^69,70, TAXUS V, and TAXUS VI ⁷¹. An integrated analysis of the TAXUS trials shows that the paclitaxel-eluting TAXUS Express stent effectively inhibits in-stent neointimal proliferation, even in high-risk and overlapping stent patients ⁷¹.

Actinomycin D

Actinomycin D is an antibiotic used in malignant neoplasms due to its antiproliferative character. It affects the S phase of the cell cycle and is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation. The efficacy of actinomycin-eluting stents was investigated in the ACTION study; however, the study was terminated prematurely due to the increased rate of stent restenosis ⁷². This increase was attributed to local drug toxicity.

Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that is used for a variety of inflammatory and immune diseases. It can inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts, SMCs and macrophages ⁷³. The activated receptor-dexamethasone complex then migrates to the nucleolus, where it binds to glucocorticoid response elements in the DNA. Glucocorticoids also exert an effect on the prostaglandin synthesis pathway, which is responsible for the production of the lipid-inflammatory mediators. Preclinical studies have found dexamethasone-eluting stents to be safe and beneficial in terms of stent-induced inflammation. In the clinical setting, the STRIDE (STudy of anti-Restenosis with the BIodivYsio Dexamethasone-Eluting stent) trial evaluated the safety and the efficacy of the BiodivYsio Matrix LO stent^TM loaded with dexamethasone (0.5 µg/mm² of stent). During the 30-day follow-up, one of the 71 patients developed a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. At 6-month follow-up, two patients presented with recurrence of symptoms. Both showed a significant restenosis in the study stent, treated with balloon angioplasty. The six-month restenosis rate was 13.3% with a late loss of 0.45 mm ⁷⁴.

Terumo statin

Preliminary experiments have shown that statins have a potent antiproliferative effect on SMCs ⁷⁵. Rosuvastatin can effectively inhibit in-stent neointima formation and in parallel improves endothelial dilator function, both in the presence and absence of high angiotensin II (Ang II) levels ^46,76. Currently, animal studies are exploring the utilization of the Tsumani^TM stent (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) as the platform for local simvastatin delivery.

Stent coatings

DESs often utilize polymers as a foundation upon which to incorporate pharmacologic agents. Synthetic or biological polymers can be used as matrices for drug incorporation, but concerns have been raised regarding biocompatibility, sterility or potential induction of inflammation. Currently, alterations on stent-backbone design (biodegradable, bioabsorbable, nanoporous, etc.) are being explored. Polymers can be broadly divided into two categories: biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Non-biodegradable polymers include phosphorylcholine (PC) polymer (Endeavor^®stent, Medtronic); C10, C19 and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (BioLinx polymer system); parylene C, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), and poly n-butyl methacrylate (PBMA) (CYPHER^TM stent, Cordis); poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (TAXUS^®stent, Boston Scientific); PBMA and polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) (Xience V^®stent, Abbott Vascular; PROMUS^TM Element^TM, Boston Scientific). Non-biodegradable polymers are currently still the preferred coating of choice for stents. This coating ensures that metal struts do not come into contact with the blood, thus minimizing restenosis. Biodegradable polymers consist of poly-L-lactide (PLA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly lactide-cocaprolactone (PLC), and poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) (Supralimusand Infinniumstent, Sahajanand Medical Technologies); poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) (Excel stent, JW Medical System). Currently, the use of biodegradable polymers is largely experimental and not approved by the FDA, and the actual benefits of having a biodegradable polymer coating over a non-biodegradable one remains to be seen ¹¹.

Bioresorbable stents are devices designed to provide temporary architectural support for the vessel wall but are fully biodegradable. The polymers of bioabsorbable stents are often composed of polylactides such as polylactic acid or polycarbonate. They are completely metabolized in approximately 12 to 18 months. The initial polymer-based bioresorbable stents were tested in animals and produced marked inflammation resulting in enhanced intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis ⁷⁷. Lincoff et al. ⁷⁸, however, demonstrated in a porcine model that stents composed of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) produced minimal inflammation and durable results. Bioresorbable alloy stents, most commonly composed of magnesium, have been used both in animals and clinically. Magnesium has been the chosen alloy because it is an essential mineral well tolerated by the body and it absorbs over four months. Metallic bioresorbable stents have specific advantages over polymer-based analogs including increased strength, more rapid degradation, and complete radioopacity; importantly, metal alloys also produce only a minimal inflammatory response. Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) (Abbott Vascular) is composed of poly-l-lactic acid and poly-D, L-lactide and contains everolimus. It requires more than 2 years for complete absorption. The REVA stent (REVA Medical) is composed of a bioabsorbable tyrosine polycarbonate polymer and metabolized into amino acids, ethanol and carbon dioxide in approximately 36 months.

Hydroxyapatite

In a search for more biocompatible coatings, hydroxyapatite was found to be a valuable alternative as a polymer surrogate. Hydroxyapatite is a well-known and excellent bioceramic that closely resembles biological apatite (bone); it is biocompatible, bioactive, and bioresorbable, and it forms the basis of a polymer that is only 200 nm thick ⁷⁹. Furthermore, its porous structure makes it an ideal drug carrier.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is highly compatible with cells and the cellular matrix. It can be efficiently degraded using specific enzymes, such as hyaluronidase; furthermore, its degradation products can induce extracellular matrix production and the neoformation of blood capillaries ^80-82. HA enhances the proliferation and migration of ECs at a later stage, whereas Akt1 siRNA delivered from nanoparticles can knock down the initial over-growth of SMCs near the implanted stent.

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable polymer that has been approved by the FDA to be used in medicine and medical devices. PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) have exhibited slow releasing capability for hydrophobic drugs and have also been tested extensively for DNA delivery in gene therapy ^83,84. The incorporation of NPs into the polymer coating layer on DESs improved drug release profiles ^85,86. Previous study has shown that stents coated with NPs of DNA polyplexes were able to efficiently transfect and express the transgene in stent-contacting arterial tissue, but not in adjacent arterial segments or distal organs ⁸⁷, suggesting the flexibility of DNA NP-coated stents for localized gene delivery.

Polylactic acid

The most studied biodegradable polymers are polylactic acid and polylactic-co-glycolic acid, which degrade over time and could, therefore, eliminate the problems associated with lack of polymer biocompatibility and polymer-induced inflammation. To date, several biodegradable polymer stents eluting biolimus A9, sirolimus, or paclitaxel have been clinically evaluated, so far proving to be effective and safe in the short term (≤ 30 days) and midterm (≤ 1 year) ^88-90.

Poly-1-lactic acid (PLLA)

The Igaki-Tamai stent (Igaki Medical Planning Co, Ltd) is a coil stent made of poly-1-lactic acid (PLLA) monofilament with a zigzag helical design ⁹¹. The stent strut thickness is 0.17 mm. The length of the stent is 12 mm and, in its expanded state, the stent covers 24% of the vessel area. The stent has 2 radiopaque gold markers to facilitate the identification of both ends of the prosthesis. Deployment of the stent is currently achieved with a balloon-expandable system through an 8 French guiding catheter. Although, PLLA biodegradable stent implantation is feasible, safe, and effective in humans, long-term follow-up with more patients will be required to validate their long-term efficacy.

Polyzene‑F

Polyzene‑F is highly biocompatible and possesses anti-inflammatory, bacteria-resistant, and pro-healing qualities. The coating ensures that the stent has a very low surface thrombogenicity, potentially reducing the risk of stent thrombosis. Evaluation of cobalt chromium stents nanocoated with polyzene‑F in an animal model yielded favorable results ⁹². Preliminary studies evaluating the Catania™ (CeloNova Biosciences, Newnan, GA, USA) stent in humans demonstrated a good safety profile and high-level efficacy ^93,94.

Stent platforms

Stents are prepared to be flexible and easily expandable and have pores for the lateral branches. Stent design influences short- and long-term outcomes. Stainless steel was used as the stent platform in the first generation DESs (Cypher®, Cypher Select®; Cordis Corporation, FL, USA or Taxus® Express/Liberté™; Boston Scientific, MA, USA), whereas cobalt chromium was used in the second generation DESs (Endeavor® Resolute; Medtronic, MN, USA; Xience™ V, Xience PRIME™; Abbott Laboratories, IL, USA; and Promus™, Promus Element™, Boston Scientific). Cobalt chromium alloy strengthens the stent andallows for strut thickness while maintaining radioopacity. It has lower risk for allergy because it contains less nickel compared to stainless steel ⁹⁵. Stainless steel or nitinol was used in the third generation stents (biolimus A9) with biodegradable polymers. Two different delivery systems have been explored, with and without additional coatings. Uncoated metal stents that have a drug attached to their surface or embedded within macroscopic fenestrations or microscopic nanopores, enabling rapid drug delivery, are under investigation and are not yet commercially available. Metal stents coated with an outer layer of polymer (bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable) can be drug-loaded, thus providing more controlled and sustained drug delivery, which might allow for more optimal drug-tissue interactions ⁹⁶.

Common stent platforms

There are many different delivery systems. The common stent platforms are as follows: 1) The Amazonia PAX (MINVASYS, Paris, France) integrates a Cobalt Chromium coronary stent, Amazonia CroCo, a well-tested antiproliferative agent and the polymer-free paclitaxel (PAX) technology. 2) The BioFreedom Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent Delivery System (Biosensors Inc, Newport Beach, Calif) is composed of 3 key components, including a 316 L stainless steel platform that has been modified with a proprietary surface treatment resulting in a selectively microstructured, abluminal surface. 3) The BioMatrix stent (Biosensors Inc, Newport Beach, Calif) is a novel DES that incorporates the S-Stent platform, a thin, stainless steel, laser-cut, tubular stent with 16.3% to 18.4% metal surface area. The antiproliferative drug is biolimus A9, a highly lipophilic, semisynthetic sirolimus analogue with an alkoxy-alkyl group replacing hydrogen at position 42-O. 4) The Sparrow Coronary Stent System (CardioMind, Inc, Sunnyvale, Calif) is a 0.014-inch guide wire-based stent delivery platform combining a limus drug in a biodegradable polymer matrix on the CardioMind nitinol stent platform with a novel release mechanism that uses a principle of electrochemical dissolution for stent release. 5) The Elixir Medical Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent Systems (Elixir Medical Corp, Sunnyvale, Calif) are designed to optimize safety and efficacy through the combination of a cobalt chromium stent platform, a low polymer loading with a controlled release and a low pharmacological drug dose. 6) Boston Scientific has recently developed the JACTAX DES system (Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Mass) comprising the market-approved stainless steel (316 L) Liberte´ premounted stent (Boston Scientific) and the antiproliferative agent paclitaxel in a reduced dose coupled with the ultrathin polymer delivery system. 7) Nevo (Cordis Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Warren, NJ) is a cobalt-chromium stent dotted with “reservoirs” that can be loaded with 1 or more drugs and polymers to release drug more specifically, potentially in various doses or formulations. In the case of the Nevo, the reservoirs are filled with a biodegradable polymer impregnated with sirolimus. 8) The CID OPTIMA new-generation DES system offers the combination of a patented polymer-free drug reservoir and the proven antithrombotic and potentially pro-healing integral Carbofilm coating. The key feature of the OPTIMA (CID S.r.l., Saluggia, Italy) are the absence of any polymer to carry the drug (tacrolimus), the proprietary drug-release system with reservoirs on the stent outer surface, ensuring targeted release only towards the vessel wall, and the integral Carbofilm coating that favors early endothelialization of the deployed stent and minimizes the risk of stent thrombosis. 9) Polymer-Free DES systems are intended not only to carry antiproliferative drugs but also to control their release. 10) The Genous^TM Bio-engineered R stent^TM (Orbus-Neich Medical, Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is developed to enhance the accumulation of endothelial progenitor cells at the site of arterial injury after stent implantation to rapidly create a functional endothelial layer and thus reduce potential thrombosis and restenosis. 11) Supralimus and Supralimus-Core sirolimus-eluting stents (Sahajanand Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd, India) are new generation DESs that combine a thin stainless-steel platform (Supralimus) or cobalt-chromium platform (Supralimus-Core), a potent immunosuppressant agent (Sirolimus), and biodegradable drug-carrier components. 12) The VestaSync Hydroxyapatite Non-Polymer-Based Sirolimus-Eluting Stent System (MIV Therapeutics, Atlanta, Ga) comprises 3 basic components: a platform, an antiproliferative agent, and a drug carrier. 13) The YUKON ChoiceDES (Translumina, German) is a stent especially designed for the nonpolymeric application of antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and/or antithrombotic drugs. The surface of the YUKON ChoiceDES contains micropores to enable the adsorption of different organic substances. The coating solution fills the pores completely and creates a uniform layer after the evaporation of the solvent. After the drug is fully released, the microporous PEARL surface favors endothelial cell adhesion (Figure 6) ⁹⁷.

Figure 6.

Several common delivery systems for the treatment of coronary restenosis

New stent platforms

There are many new stent platforms. The Element Stent Platform (Boston Scientific) is made of a platinum-chromium alloy. It is a denser alloy than cobalt-chromium or stainless steel. It has a strut thickness of 81 μm and exhibits high radial durability and radiopacity. The Element Platform has been used in two stents: an everolimus-eluting stent (PROMUS Element; Boston Scientific) and a paclitaxel-eluting stent (TAXUS Element; Boston Scientific). In a randomized, multicenter PLATINUM study comprising 1,530 patients, the PROMUS Element was compared with the cobalt-chromium PROMUS everolimus-eluting stent (Boston Scientific) and no significant difference was found in terms of target vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, and cardiac events ⁹⁸. Moreover, no significant difference was found in terms of one-year outcomes between the paclitaxel-eluting TAXUS Element and the TAXUS Express stent in the TAXUS PERSEUS Workhouse study ⁹⁹.

Bifurcation stents have been designed to overcome the difficulties encountered during bifurcation procedures. The rate of restenosis ranges between 28% and 54%, notably because the first generation bifurcation stents (Multi-Link Frontier^TM, SLK-View^TM, Petal^TM, Sideguard^TM, Twin-Rail^TM, Nile Croco^TM, Tryton^TM, and Sidekick^TM) were not drug-eluting ¹⁰⁰. Paclitaxel- or biolimus-eluting stents are available among the new generation bifurcation stents. 1) The TAXUS Petal (Boston Scientific) stent is more potent and more radiopaque than is stainless steel thanks to its platinum-chromium platform. It uses the same polymer as TAXUS Express. The stent has a hole for the side-branch opening. The rate of target vessel revascularization was found to be 11.7% in the first study on humans; the rotational alignment affected the success of the procedure because it had to be performed during the procedure ¹⁰¹. 2) The Axxess (Devax Inc.) stent has been designed to be self-expanding with a nickel-titanium platform and a cone-shape thought suitable for bifurcation anatomy. This design facilitates access to the distal branches. The biolimus A9-eluting side branch stent has a polymer coating with a drug-eluting and biodegradable character. Nine-month outcomes of the DIVERGE study revealed alow cardiac event rate of 7.7% and a target vessel revascularization rate of 4.3% ¹⁰². 3) Nile PaxTM (Minvasys) is a polymer free paclitaxel-eluting stent with a cobalt-chromium platform. It has been designed for bifurcation lesions with a hole in the middle. The early results of the BIPAX study revealed high success rates; however, the long-term results have not yet been published ¹⁰³. 4) STENTYS (Stensys S.A.S.) is a self-expanding stent with a nitinol platform and interconnections, which can be disconnectedby balloon angioplasty, to provide easy access to side branches. The OPEN I study reported its use with high success rates in coronary bifurcation lesions and impressively low rates of six-month cardiac events and late lumen loss ¹⁰⁴.

Nanoparticle drug-eluting stents

DESs have proven to be effective in reducing the risk of late restenosis. To achieve a controlled and prolonged release of the antiproliferative agents, current DESs utilize various biodegradable as well as non-erodible polymeric blends to coat the stent surface and to serve as drug carriers. Nanotechnology could offer a new avenue for the improvement of current stent technology. The nanotechnology applications can be divided into two groups based on their therapeutic strategies: an anti-restenosis strategy to prevent SMC proliferation and a pro-healing strategy to restore functional endothelium. In the anti-restenosis strategy, in-stent neointima formation can be prevented by nanoparticle-assisted delivery of small molecular weight antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents, or by heat-induced ablation of inflammatory cells with light-activatable nanoparticles. Decoupled from stents, nanoparticles may allow for spatiotemporal control of drug delivery to maximize antiproliferative effects while minimizing systemic toxicity. In the pro-healing strategy, re-endothelialization can be facilitated by using nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrix in vessels, or by using magnetic nanoparticles for the enhanced delivery of cells to stent struts under magnetic fields.

A liposomal nanoparticle loaded with bisphophonate is a potent inhibitor of monocytes and macrophages. Danenberg et al. ¹⁰⁵ reported that treatment with liposomal alendronate, a potent bisphophonate, at the time of stent implantation in a lipid-fed rabbit model resulted in significant reductions in neointimal formation and arterial stenosis. Liposomal alendronate formulations are currently being tested in a phase II, dose-finding, randomized, multi-center, prospective, and double blinded study. Kolodgie et al. ¹⁰⁶ demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in stent restenosis after infusion of albumin-based, paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles (Nab-Paclitaxel). Subsequently, the systemic delivery of Nab-Paclitaxel was tested in patients undergoing BMS placement for safety and optimal dosing and was found to be well tolerated without significant toxicity ¹⁰⁷. Joner et al. ¹⁰⁸ developed a novel prednisolone-encapsulated liposomal formulation targeted to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and demonstrated preferential localization of drugs to the sites of stent-induced injury and subsequent reduction in restenosis in atherosclerotic rabbits. Likewise, Chan et al. ¹⁰⁹ developed a collagen-IV-targeting, paclitaxel-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles called nanoburrs and reported significant improvements in arterial stenosis after targeted nanoparticle treatment in a rat carotid injury model. In another study, Lanza et al. ¹¹⁰ reported similar anti-restenotic effects with paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles targeted to tissue factor, a transmembrane glycoprotein that is over-expressed after vascular injury. Alternatively, ''stents'' themselves instead of injured vessels can serve as a target for nanoparticle-assisted drug delivery. Chorny et al. ⁸⁵ developed a biocompatible, paclitaxel-loaded magnetic nanoparticle that is attracted to the stent struts and adjacent arterial tissues in the presence of a magnetic field, facilitating the localization of nanoparticles and effective inhibition of ISR.

Ceylan et al. ¹¹¹ developed a bioactive stent coating by conjugating peptide amphiphile nanofibers with 1) an REDV epitope that selectively promotes EC adhesion and spreading over SMCs and platelets and 2) a Dopa molecule that forms a strong hydrogen bond with hydrophilic surfaces of stainless steel, thereby securely immobilizing the nanofiber on the stent surface. They reported improved EC adhesion, spreading, and proliferation on a nanofiber-coated stent compared to a BMS. Polyak et al. ¹¹² used an alternative strategy to improve endothelial healing using magnetically responsive cell therapy. First, ECs were loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and then injected into rats with stainless steel stents placed in their carotid arteries. When a magnetic field was applied, these MNP-loaded cells were preferentially driven to the stented area and remained attached. Although this use of magnetically responsive cells to facilitate stent re-endothelialization may provide a useful alternative for vascular healing after stent placement, further studies are warranted to assess the long-term viability and functionality of the ECs after delivery to the stent surface.

AG1295

The tyrphostin AG1295, a selective blocker of PDGF-receptorkinase, exerts a marked inhibitory effect on the activation, migration, and proliferation of porcine and human SMCs in vitro. Local intravascular delivery of AG1295-impregnated polylactic acid-based nanoparticles (130 ± 25 nm) to the site of balloon injury to porcine femoral arteries resulted in an approximately 50% inhibitory effect on neointimal formation ⁴⁰.

Imatinib mesylate

PDGF plays a central role in the pathogenesis of restenosis; therefore, it was hypothesized that imatinib mesylate (PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) encapsulated bioabsorbable polymeric nanoparticle-eluting stents would attenuate in-stent neointima formation. The effects of imatinib-incorporated nanoparticle-eluting stents on neointima formation and endothelial healing were examined in a pig coronary artery stent model. The effects of the imatinib-nanoparticle were also examined in cultured cells. In a cultured cell study, imatinib-nanoparticles attenuated the proliferation of vascular SMCs associated with inhibition of the target molecule (phosphorylation of PDGF receptor-β), but showed no effect on endothelial proliferation. In a pig coronary artery stent model, imatinib-nanoparticle-eluting stents markedly attenuated in-stent neointima formation and stenosis by approximately 50% as assessed by angiographic, histopathological, and intravascular ultrasound imaging analyses. Imatinib-nanoparticle-eluting stents also attenuated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, but did not affect inflammation and re-endothelialization ¹¹³. These data suggest that suppression of neointima formation by an imatinib-nanoparticle-eluting stent holds promise as a molecular-targeting nanoparticle delivery system for preventing ISR.

Paclitaxel

Of the drugs investigated for restenosis prevention and treatment, only paclitaxel and sirolimus have been successfully administered through nanoparticle-based delivery systems and only in preclinical studies. Bhargava et al. ¹¹⁴ have evaluated the response of porcine coronary arteries to a novel paclitaxel-eluting porous carbon-carbon nanoparticle-coated, nonpolymeric cobalt chromium stent. Sixteen carbon-carbon-coated, nonpolymeric cobalt chromium stents with two different doses of paclitaxel (eight of each) were implanted in porcine coronary arteries. In addition, eight cobalt chromium stents coated with a biodegradable polymer were also studied. Animals were sacrificed 6 weeks after stent implantation and histomorphometric analysis was performed. The results were compared among the three groups of stents. The cobalt-chromium stents coated with carbon-carbon with low and medium doses of paclitaxel both demonstrated acceptable performance characteristics with respect to endothelialization, neointimal hyperplasia, percentage diameter stenosis, inflammatory response, and tendency to fibrin deposition when compared to historical data with the Cypher stent. However, the stents coated with poly (lactide) and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) biodegradable polymers and 0.7 µg/mm² paclitaxel demonstrated poor performance. There was a significant tendency towards poor endothelialization, greater neointimal hyperplasia, percentage diameter stenosis, greater inflammatory response, and tendency to fibrin deposition (P < 0.01 for all parameters). This preclinical evaluation demonstrates the safety and efficacy of a novel cobalt-chromium stent with a carbon-carbon coating and low and medium doses of paclitaxel.

Chorny et al. ⁸⁵ demonstrated that magnetic treatment of cultured arterial SMCs with paclitaxel-loaded magnetic nanoparticles caused significant cell growth inhibition, which was not observed under nonmagnetic conditions. In agreement with the results of mathematical modeling, significantly higher localization rates of locally delivered magnetic nanoparticles to stented arteries were achieved with uniform-field-controlled targeting compared to nonmagnetic controls in the rat carotid stenting model. The arterial tissue levels of stent-targeted magnetic nanoparticles remained 4- to 10-fold higher in magnetically treated animals vs. control over 5 days post-delivery. The enhanced retention of magnetic nanoparticles at target sites due to the uniform field-induced magnetization effect resulted in a significant inhibition of ISR with a relatively low dose of magnetic nanoparticle-encapsulated paclitaxel (7.5 µg paclitaxel/stent). Thus, the study demonstrates the feasibility of site-specific drug delivery to implanted magnetizable stents by uniform field-controlled targeting of magnetic nanoparticles with efficacy for ISR.

Pitavastatin (Pitava)

Statins are known to inhibit the proliferation of vascular SMCs and to promote vascular healing. Among six marketed statins, pitavastatin (Pitava) was found to have the most potent effects on vascular SMCs proliferation and endothelial regeneration in vitro. Tsukie et al. ¹¹⁵ formulated a Pitava-nanoparticle-eluting stent (20 µg Pitava per stent). In a pig coronary artery model, Pitava-nanoparticle-eluting stents attenuated ISR as effectively as did polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). At SES sites, delayed endothelial healing effects were noted, whereas no such effects were observed in Pitava-nanoparticle-eluting stent sites. Pitava-nanoparticle-eluting stents attenuated ISR as effectively as did SES without the delayed endothelial healing effects of SES in a porcine coronary artery model. These results suggest that this nanotechnology platform could be developed into a safer and more effective device in the future.

Sirolimus (rapamycin)

The administration of drugs using biodegradable polymer nanoparticles as carriers has generated immense interest due to their excellent biocompatibility and prolonged drug release. Luderer et al. ¹¹⁶ determined the applicability of sirolimus-loaded biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) nanoparticles as drug carriers to prevent restenotic processes after stent implantation. The average 250-nm-sized 20% (w/w) sirolimus-loaded nanoparticles were extensively characterized with regard to in vitro degradation, biocompatibility and in vitro drug release. The particles demonstrated biphasic release kinetics consisting of a short burst release of 50% (w/w) sirolimus payload, followed by a longer, slower release phase, which were desirable for their application as a drug delivery carrier. All presented results demonstrate the potential of sirolimus-loaded PDLLA nanoparticles as promising local and sustained drug delivery systems administered intraluminally to reduce ISR after stent implantation.

Räthel et al. ¹¹⁷ developed a system for post-hoc drug delivery to uncoated stents. They coupled rapamycin or a chemically similar fluorescent dye to superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The antiproliferative activity of rapamycin coupled to nanoparticles was confirmed in vitro in primary porcine vascular cells. The particles were then incorporated into lipid based microbubbles. Commercially available stents were magnetized using nickel plating and were used to induce strong field gradients to capture magnetic microbubbles from flowing liquids when placed in an external magnetic field. Nanoparticle-bound rapamycin dose dependently inhibited cell proliferation in vitro. Magnetic microbubbles carrying coated nanoparticles were caught by magnets placed external to a flow-through tube. Plating commercial stents with nickel resulted in increased deposition at stent struts and allowed for widely increased distance of external magnets. The deposition depended on the circulation time and the velocity and distance of the magnets. Deposited microbubbles were destroyed by ultrasound and delivered their cargo to the targeted sites. Drugs can be incorporated into nanoparticle loaded microbubbles and thus be delivered to magnetizable stents from circulating fluids by applying external magnetic fields. This technology could allow for post-hoc drug coating of already implanted vascular stents.

S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)

Acharya et al. ¹¹⁸ optimized the physicodynamic conditions of polymeric system as a coating substrate for DESs against restenosis. As nitric oxide (NO) has multifunctional activities, such as regulating blood flow and pressure and influencing thrombus formation, a continuous and spatiotemporal delivery of NO loaded in the polymer-based nanoparticles could be a viable option to reduce and prevent restenosis. To identify the most suitable carrier for S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a NO prodrug, stents were coated with various polymers, such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL), using solvent evaporation technique. Full factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of the formulation variables in polymer-based stent coatings on the GSNO release rate and weight loss rate. The least square regression model was used for data analysis in the optimization process. The polymer-coated stents were further assessed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and platelet adhesion studies. Stents coated with the PCL matrix displayed more sustained and controlled drug release profiles than did those coated with PLGA and PEG. Stents coated with the PCL matrix had the lowest platelet adhesion rate. Subsequently, stents coated with the PCL matrix were subjected to further optimization processes for the improvement of surface morphology and the enhancement of the drug release duration. The results of the study demonstrated that a PCL matrix containing GSNO is a promising system for stent surface coating against restenosis. The main preclinical studies of nanoparticle DESs for the prevention and treatment of coronary restenosis are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Main preclinical studies of nanoparticle drug-eluting stents for coronary restenosis

Drug	Nanocarrier system	Finding	Reference
Imatinib mesylate	Imatinib-nanoparticle-eluting stent	Attenuated in-stent neointima formation and stenosis by approximately 50% in a pig coronary artery stent model	Masuda et al. 113
Paclitaxel	Carbon-carbon coated, nonpolymeric cobalt chromium stent	Acceptable performance characteristics, with respect to endothelialization, neointimal hyperplasia, percentage diameter stenosis, inflammatory response, and tendency to fibrin deposition in porcine coronary arteries	Bhargava et al. 114
Paclitaxel	Locally delivered magnetic nanoparticles to stented arteries	Inhibition of in-stent restenosis with a relatively low dose of magnetic nanoparticle-encapsulated paclitaxel (7.5 µg paclitaxel/stent) in the rat carotid stenting model	Chorny et al. 85
Pitavastatin (Pitava)	Pitava-nanoparticle-eluting stent	Attenuated in-stent restenosis as effectively as polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents in a pig coronary artery model	Tsukie et al. 115
S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)	Stents were coated with various polymers, such as poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL)	Stents coated with PCL matrix displayed more sustained and controlled drug release profiles than those coated with PLGA and PEG; the lowest platelet adhesion rate	Acharya et al. 118

Nanoparticle gene-eluting stents

Gene-eluting stents (GESs) employ the use of stents as permanent scaffolds to achieve localized and sustained delivery of therapeutic genes to the affected vessel wall ¹¹⁹. GESs have recently been proposed as a novel method of circumventing problems seen in BMSs and DESs. Utilizing nanotechnology, sustained and localized delivery of genes can mitigate problems of restenosis and late stent thrombosis by accelerating the regenerative capacity of re-endothelialization. Initial studies in the field of vascular gene therapy explored the use of catheters, such as the double balloon, single lumen porous balloon, Dispatch coil balloon, and Infiltrator nipple balloon catheters, to deliver both viral and non-viral gene vectors. Although these approaches were able to achieve localized delivery of therapeutic genes in conjunction with the balloon angioplasty procedure ^120,121, several major limitations (prolonged total occlusion of the target vessel; damage to the vessel wall and the induction of inflammatory responses and neointimal hyperplasia; and low levels of gene transfer efficiency) have dampened further advancement in the field. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in and preference for balloon-expandable GESs over catheters as a platform for gene delivery. GESs represent a more appealing method for gene delivery to atherosclerotic coronary vessels for the following reasons: first, vector immobilization to stent struts allows for increased local concentration of the therapeutic drug at the targeted arterial segment without distal spread to nontarget tissue, thereby avoiding systemic toxicity and increasing the chance of effective gene transfection to adjacent cells ^120,122,123. Second, the therapeutic effect is targeted to the anticipated site of pathophysiological processes such as mural thrombosis and vascular SMC proliferation ¹²³. Third, there is already extensive clinical experience in coronary stenting procedures, making it extremely convenient to combine revascularization with gene delivery in a single procedure ¹²⁴. Fourth, stents are able to act as permanent scaffolding structures and reservoirs for prolonged vector release. Finally, stent-tethered vectors can better persist in tissues as they are physically protected from the shearing effect of blood flow ¹²⁵. Although there are several major limitations, a significant amount of work has been accomplished in the field of non-viral nanoparticle-based gene delivery. Most of the work on non-viral transfection has been performed with commercially available cationic lipid transfection reagents such as Lipofectamine^® or Lipofectamine Plus^®. Numerous transgenes have been shown to be effective in reducing restenosis in animal models, and various modes of local gene delivery have been developed. There are four main molecular targets that researchers have focused on: reduction of neointimal hyperplasia; acceleration of re-endothelialization; inhibition of thrombosis; and reduction of inflammation. Of these targets, the inhibition of restenosis via a reduction in neointimal hyperplasia has been the most studied method.

Therapeutic genes

Gene therapy is an appealing way to prevent restenosis by delivering therapeutic genes into the vascular tissue. Many previous studies utilized either intravenous injection or balloon catheters to introduce genes and carriers to blood vessel. Unlike other gene therapies, cardiovascular gene therapy encounters the obstacle of specifically delivering therapeutic genes to the target site, not the blood circulatory system. The use of endovascular stents as scaffolds for the localized and prolonged delivery of therapeutic genes into the diseased blood vessel wall would provide a promising solution for gene therapy of ISR ^126,127. However, endovascular stent as a percutaneous gene delivery device needs to be improved upon mainly due to insufficient gene loading. Non-viral gene delivery has been considered safer than its viral counterpart. Strategies for enhancing non-viral gene delivery typically involve the complexation of plasmids with cationic polymers or lipids, which can self-assemble with DNA to form particles capable of being endocytosed by cells. Substrate-mediated delivery results in the immobilization of DNA complexed with the carrier onto the substrate. Immobilization on the target surface can enhance gene transfer by maintaining an elevated concentration of DNA within the cellular microenvironment via sustained release and by facilitating subsequent cellular internalization ¹²⁸.

The modulation of genes with plasmid DNA and RNA interference has been used to modulate the local concentrations of specific signaling molecules that inhibit the growth of certain cells while promoting the growth of others. The key point for each of these therapies is to inhibit the growth of vascular SMCs while promoting re-endothelialization of the vessel, so as to reverse the injured vessel back into a healthy vessel. A variety of different gene targets have been used to treat restenosis. Restenosis gene therapies can be categorized by their method of action and their cellular target ¹²⁹, e.g., antiproliferative (cytotoxic) genes: thimidine kinase, cytosine deaminase, FasL ^130-135; antiproliferative (cytostatic) genes: cdc2, cdk2, cdc2, cyclin B, p21, hRAD 50, p27, p16-p27, p53 ^136-141, nonphorphorylatable Rb, Rb/E2F chimera, E2F decoy ^142-145, truncated proteinkinase G (PKG) ¹⁴⁶, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) ¹⁴⁷, early growth response factor (Egr-1), dominant-negative H-ras, Gax homeobox, GATA homeobox, interferon (INF)-β ^148-153, heme oxygenase-1 ^154,155, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) ^156-161; re-endothelialization gene: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ^162,163; antithrombotic genes: hiridun ¹⁶⁴, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) ^165-167, prostacyclin synthase (PGIS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) ^168-171; mixed mechanism genes: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) ^{120,121,155,172-176}.

Delivery vectors

Non-viral plasmid-mediated gene transfer

A large array of gene delivery vectors has been evaluated for their ability to introduce therapeutic genes into vascular tissue. Vectors for gene delivery can be broadly classified into 2 categories: viral and non-viral vectors. Non-viral vectors include naked plasmid DNA, plasmid DNA-containing cationic liposomes, and DNA-polycation complexes. Naked plasmid DNA comprises DNA encoding for the recombinant gene fused with DNA sequences permitting replication as a plasmid in bacterial hosts. 1) Naked plasmid DNA: There are many studies using naked plasmid DNA or plasmid DNA as delivery vectors ^124,177-182. Klugherz et al. ¹⁷⁷ was the first group to report the successful use of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid DNA-coated stent to transfect rat aortic SMCs in vitro (7.9% vs. 0.6% in controls) as well as stent-treated coronaries in a pig coronary angioplasty model in vivo. This approach was able to demonstrate successful transfection of 500 μg to 1 mg of plasmid DNA per stent. A later study was able to demonstrate the successful delivery of a therapeutic gene, VEGF-2, also using plasmid DNA-coated stent, although at a lower DNA load per stent (100-200μg) ¹²⁴. The plasmid DNA was effectively delivered to only the stented site within 24 h of stent implantation, with no evidence of systemic expression. Transgene expression was detectable in the stented site up to 10 days after implantation, which was sufficient to exert a therapeutic effect. 2) Lipid nanoparticle-based gene delivery: An early study by Muhs et al. ¹²⁰ examined iNOS plasmid delivery to porcine femoral and coronary stent injury models using a lipid-DNA complex (lipoplex) vector, which was produced by complexing iNOS plasmid with the cationic lipid DAC-30 [a mixture of the monocationic lipid 3β-(N,N′-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoylcholesterol (DAC) at 30% w/w and the neutral colipid dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) at 70%, w/w]. Cationic lipid-mediated iNOS gene transfer combined with local delivery by an Infiltrator infusion catheter was shown to enable sufficiently high expression of iNOS protein to bring about therapeutic efficacy in diminishing neointimal formation. The group demonstrated proof of successful transfection and dose-dependent iNOS transgene expression (up to 2 μg of iNOS lipoplexes) and also confirmed correct transgene processing. Using a similar liposomal system, Brito et al. ¹³ examined gene delivery in a balloon-injured rabbit iliac artery restenosis model using GFP plasmid DNA-containing cationic liposomes (lipopolyplexes). GFP plasmid DNA was precondensed with poly(beta-amino ester) (PbAE) and encapsulated in cationic 1-oleoyl-2-{6-[(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)-amino]hexanoyl}-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) liposomes to form DOTAP-PbAE-plasmid DNA lipopolyplexes (LPP) with an approximate particle diameter of 236.2 ± 73.5 nm. In a follow-up study by the same group using the same LPP vector for eNOS-encoding plasmid DNA in combination with a modified stent coating to permit sustained LPP delivery in vivo, they were able to show sufficiently high local eNOS expression (125 pg eNOS vs. < 50 pg in controls) to bring about significant therapeutic efficacy in reducing restenosis and accelerating re-endothelialization. The results of a recent study by Sharif et al. ¹⁷⁸ examined eNOS plasmid delivery in a balloon-injured rabbit iliac artery model using a lipid-DNA complex (lipoplex) vector similar to that used in Muhs et al. ¹²⁰, which was produced by mixing lipofectin {a 1:1 mixture of the cationic lipidN-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) and the neutral colipid dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE)} with a plasmid DNA solution. Similar to previous studies conducted by the group, expression studies demonstrated that reporter β-gal transgene expression following delivery from lipoplex-eluting stents peaked at 28 days post-stenting and was sustained until 42 days post-stenting, by which point expression had significantly decreased. In addition, viral-mimicking liposomes [such as the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome] have also been investigated as gene vectors, and have been established to be highly reliable and superior to conventional liposomal carriers ^{138,143,144,166,169, 183,184}. 3). Polymeric nanoparticle-based gene delivery: In contrast to lipid nanoparticle-based delivery, few studies have explored polymeric nanoparticle-based vectors for intravascular gene delivery. An in vitro study by Kim et al. ¹²² reported greatly enhanced reporter gene transfection efficiency with the use of cationic GFP plasmid DNA/polyethylenimine (PEI) polyplexes adsorbed on hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated stents via strong electrostatic interactions between cationic pDNA/PEI polyplexes and anionic HA. Cationic PEI was mixed with GFP pDNA to form pDNA/PEI polyplexes with nanoparticular morphology and an average size of 282.1 ± 89.3 nm. Another novel polymeric nanoparticle-based gene delivery approach was described by Zhu et al. ⁸⁷ and involves spray-coating stents with dodecylated chitosan-plasmid DNA nanoparticles (DCDNPs). A final polymer-based gene vector that has been successfully used in intravascular gene therapy utilizes the biocompatible and biodegradable copolymer poly-DL-lactide/glycolide (PLGA), which is one of the few synthetic polymers that have been approved for use in humans ¹⁸⁵. PLGA nanoparticles were used as PDGF-β receptor ODN antisense carriers in a balloon-injured rat carotid artery model. PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating ODNs have been previously shown to enhance cellular uptake via endocytosis, increase resistance to nuclease degradation, offer sustained release of ODNs, and subsequently prolong the duration of ODN antisense action. Indeed, the study by Cohen-Sacks et al. ¹⁸⁵ was able to achieve sustained and controlled release of ODNs from the PLGA nanoparticles over a period of 1 month, which resulted in inhibition of neointimal formation over that period.

Viral-mediated gene transfer

Unlike non-viral vectors, fewer studies have investigated adenoviral vector tethering on nanoparticle surfaces ^{123,125,186-188}. Klugherz et al. ¹⁸⁷ was the first group to report successful stent-based gene delivery using a replication-defective adenovirus encoding GFP. An antiadenoviral antibody tethering method was employed to bind adenoviral vectors to a collagen-coated stent to allow controlled, site-specific, localized release and improve transduction efficacy. Later studies followed suit, using a variety of methods to tether adenoviral vectors to the stent surface through highly specific affinity immobilization ^123,125,188. A study by Levy's group in 2008 ¹²³ explored the possibility of using an entirely synthetic strategy to tether adenoviral vectors to BMSs, which involved the use of a bifunctional cross-linking agent (HL) to bind both the adenoviral vector and a surface-modified stent. Capsid proteins of adenovirus vectors were first covalently modified with the bifunctional HL and then tethered to the stent. Interestingly, an earlier study by the same group demonstrated that nanoparticle-adenovirus (NP-Ad) complexes formed from surface-activated polylactide (PLA) nanoparticles covalently attached to adenovirus-binding proteins achieved significantly higher levels of gene delivery and transgene expression than that did comparable amounts of free adenoviral vectors ¹⁸⁸. Unfortunately, to date, there has not been a follow-up in vivo study on a local delivery strategy to deliver these nanoparticle-adenovirus complexes to the vasculature. Taken together, these studies provide strong evidence of the potential for nanotechology-based approaches to enhance existing viral and non-viral gene delivery methods.

Delivery platforms

The final element of a GES is the gene delivery platform, the purpose of which is to incorporate and elute naked plasmid DNA or DNA-containing vectors. In most studies, the gene delivery platform is a polymer stent coating, which plays a crucial role in ensuring a compatible relationship between the BMS surfaces, the vessel wall, and circulating blood ^{13,119,122,124,126,177,178,181,189,190}. Other studies, however, have explored the option of direct vector-tethering to BMS surfaces without the use of a polymer coating to prevent potential polymer-induced vascular injury and inflammatory responses ^123,125,182. In recent years, nanotechnology has been employed in the design of stent-based gene delivery platforms, be it in nanotextured surfaces to enhance biocompatibility and improve cell-stent interactions ^191,192 or in specifically targeted, nanoscale surface topographic modifications to improve interactions with blood and enhance endothelial attachment, proliferation, and migration ¹⁵⁸.

Polymer stent coatings

Recent in vivo studies on GESs using polymers for stent coatings have demonstrated successful gene transfer and/or substantial therapeutic effects with no evidence of significantly increased inflammation when the polymer is applied in a uniform and thin layer. Polymers investigated include both synthetic [e.g., polylactic-polyglycolic acid (PLGA)] ¹⁷⁷ and naturally occurring [e.g., collagen, gelatin (a derivative of collagen, types A and B) and phosphorylcholine (PC)] polymers ^{13,119,124,127,178,181,189,190}. In most of these studies, the gene-encoding vector was attached to the stent surface by dip- or spray-coating the stent with vector-containing polymer that isa derivative of collagen. An alternative biocompatible stent coating recently investigated by Kim et al. ¹²² is hyaluronic acid (HA). HA, a major glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix, has been shown to reduce thrombus formation when coated onto endovascular devices.

Vector-tethering

Despite the encouraging results obtained with the bulk immobilization of gene vectors on polymer stent coatings, several studies have opted instead for a vector-tethering strategy to exclude the need for a polymer coating ^{123,125,127,182}. Fishbein et al. ¹²⁵ and Wang et al. ¹⁸² demonstrated effective gene delivery from BMS surfaces pretreated with polyallylamine bisphosphonate (PAA-BP) and conjugated to anti-pDNA or anti-adenoviral antibodies or recombinant D1 proteins via covalent cross-linking with N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) ^125,182. Notably, Fishbein et al. ¹²⁵ observed a nanoparticulate surface topography on PAA-BP stents with surface-tethered adenoviral vectors. This finding demonstrated that affinity-mediated vector-tethering allows for dense packing of the vector onto the stent surface.

Several studies on nanoparticle GESs

Antisense oligonucleotide

Antisense oligomers are polymers designed to interfere with the information transfer from the gene to the protein. Thus, they may target specific genetic sequences that potentially play an important role at particular stages of disease progression. AVI-4126 is a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, meaning that it is capable of binding to RNA in a sequence-specific fashion with sufficient avidity to be useful for the inhibition of the translation of the mRNA into protein in vivo, a result referred to as an 'antisense' effect. The AVI-4126 antisense oligomer blocks the expression of the c-myc protein, which is responsible for many of the pathologic processes associated with restenosis. In the experimental setting, animal studies have shown that AVI-4126 can efficiently reduce neointimal formation without inducing aneurysm formation ¹⁹³. Forty-four patients with either de novo lesions or restenosis were randomized into low dose (3 mg), high dose (10 mg), and control groups. There was no in-hospital or 30-day MACE recorded in any group. Clinical follow-up was available for 25 patients. At 6 months, four patients (50%) from the control group and 7 (100%) patients from the low-dose group required target vessel revascularization (TVR). In contrast, in the high-dose group only 1 patient (10%) required TVR. Angiographic follow-up in 25 patients showed that binary restenosis occurred in 38% of control patients, 29% of the low dose patients, and 0% of those in the high dose group ¹⁹⁴. These preliminary findings from this small cohort of patients require confirmation in a larger trial utilizing more sophisticated drug-eluting technologies.

Akt1 siRNA

The inhibition of Akt1 has been reported to decrease the expression of caspase-8 in ECs. The suppression of downstream Akt1 signaling proteins such as Fas ligand results in the stimulation of caspase activity and apoptosis in SMCs. The specific inhibition of Akt1 protein expression has also been demonstrated to result in the retardation of cell growth ^195,196. Che et al. ¹⁹⁷ developed a new delivery technique for Akt1 siRNA nanoparticles using a hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated stent surface. For this purpose, the disulfide cross-linked low molecular polyethyleneimine (PEI) (ssPEI) was used as a gene delivery carrier because disulfide bonds are stable in an oxidative extracellular environment but degrade rapidly in reductive intracellular environments. In this study, Akt1 siRNA demonstrated efficient ionic interaction with the ssPEI carrier, which was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Akt1 siRNA/ssPEI nanoparticles (ASNs) were immobilized on the HA-coated stent surface and exhibited stable binding and localization, followed by time-dependent sustained release for intracellular uptake. Cellular viability on the nanoparticle-immobilized surface was assessed using A10 vascular SMCs, and the immobilized ASNs exhibited negligible cytotoxicity against the adhering A10 cells. Transfection efficiency was quantified using a luciferase assay; the transgene expression of Akt1 suppression through the delivered Akt1 siRNA was measured using RT-PCR and Western blot, demonstrating higher gene silencing efficiency when compared to other carriers. ASN coated on HA stents were deployed in the balloon-injured external iliac artery in rabbits in vivo. The Akt1 released from the stent were shown to suppress the growth of the smooth muscle at the peri-stent implantation area, resulting in the prevention of restenosis in the post-implantation phase.

Chitosan-plasmid DNA

The feasibility and efficiency of stents coated with dodecylated chitosan-plasmid DNA nanoparticles (DCDNPs) were evaluated as scaffolds for localized and prolonged delivery of reporter genes into the diseased blood vessel wall. Dodecylated chitosan-plasmid DNA complexes formed stable positive charged nanospheres with a mean diameter of approximately 90-180 nm and a zeta potential of +28 ± 3 mV. As prepared DCDNPs were spray-coated onto stents, a thin layer of dense DCDNPs was successfully distributed onto the metal struts of the endovascular stents as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The DCDNP stents were characterized for the release kinetics of plasmid DNA and further evaluated for gene delivery and expression both in vitro and in vivo. In cell culture, DCDNP stents containing plasmid EGFP-C1 exhibited high levels of GFP expression in cells growing onto and adjacent to the stent surface. In animal studies, reporter gene activity was observed in the region of the artery in contact with the DCDNP stents, but not in adjacent arterial segments or distal organs. The DCDNP stent provides a very promising strategy for cardiovascular gene therapy ⁸⁷.

eNOS gene

The gene for eNOS was transfected into a canine ex-vivo saphenous vein graft using Lipofectamine Plus^{® 198}. In this study, the transgene was identified with polymerase chain reaction in all eNOS-transfected grafts regardless of transfection modality. However, significant transcription of the ecNOS transgene was observed only in the group receiving 100µg/mL plasmid DNA + LipofectAMINE PLUS. NOS activity increased approximately twofold in this group. Numbers of proliferating cells did not differ among ecNOS-transfected and control grafts in any transfection group. These results suggest that ecNOS transfection of veingrafts is feasible through intimal and adventitial routes with naked DNA or a liposomal vector. However, the efficient transcription of the transgene is evident at postoperative day 3 only after adventitialtransfection of 100 µg/mL of the gene.

Prostacyclin synthase gene

A disordered proliferative process in the vascular wall is thought to underlie the pathogenesis of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. A growth inhibitory property of overexpressed prostacyclin (PGI2) synthase (PGIS) was recently implicated in the pathological proliferation of vascular SMCs in vitro. Todaka et al. ¹⁶⁹ demonstrated that the cDNA encoding human PGIS was transfected into endothelium-denuded rat carotid arteries after arterial balloon injury with the use of hemagglutinating virus Japan (HVJ). HVJ liposome vector complex without PGIS cDNA was used for vehicle control. The gene transfer of human PGIS expression-vector into rat carotid arteries resulted in the increased production of human PGI2 in the vascular wall, the expression of human PGIS in the developing neointima and significantly inhibition of neointimal formation after balloon injury. PGIS can be selectively augmented by cotransfecting ECs with an optimal ratio of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) to PGIS. Combined COX-1 and PGIS gene transfer has the potential for therapeutic augmentation of prostacyclin ¹⁷⁰. PGIS gene transfer accelerated re-endothelialization and attenuated neointimal formation after stent implantation in atheromatous rabbit arteries, at least in part via increased production of VEGF protein ¹⁷¹.

VEGF gene

The VEGF gene has been extensively studied and used to promote revascularization and re-endothelialization by stimulating endothelial progenitor cell migration and maturation ^199,200. Thus, it has attracted attention as a DES candidate for its ability to promote endothelial regeneration while reducing in-stent neointimal areas in animal models ¹²⁴. Despite promising results with local delivery of the VEGF to the site of vascular injury, a recently conducted experimental study of VEGF-eluting stents failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect on endothelialization or on intimal hyperplasia. These VEGF-eluting stents did not accelerate endothelization or inhibit restenosis, but they did reduce the stent thrombosis rate, which may make them less thrombogenic ²⁰⁰. Accelerated endothelialization via local delivery of endothelial specific growth factors could constitute an attractive alternative to direct antiproliferative strategies. Paul et al. ²⁰¹ reported the development of a nanobiohybrid hydrogel-based endovascular stent device capable of preventing post-angioplasty ISR by promoting significant vascular endothelial recovery in a site-specific manner. The hydrogel is comprised of fibrin matrices assembled layer-by-layer (LbL) on the stent surface with alternate layers carrying endosomolytic Tat peptide/DNA nanoparticles or nanoparticles hybridized to polyacrylic acid (PAA) wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (nanoparticle-CNT). Here, the hydrogel works as a reservoir to carry, protect, and simultaneously deliver pro-angiogenic, VEGF and angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) gene-carrying nanoparticles to the target site. In vitro results demonstrated that CNTs incorporated in the hydrogel layers play a major role in tuning the bioactivity of the stent. In addition, the developed stent formulation can significantly reduce the loss of therapeutics while traversing through the vessel and during deployment. In vivo experiments in balloon-injured canine femoral artery demonstrated that the NCS (+) group carrying nanoparticle (VEGF + Ang1) was able to significantly enhance re-endothelialization of the injured artery compared to control NCS (-) carrying nanoparticle (Null) and BMS groups. The NCS (+) group also demonstrated attenuated stenosis (18.5 ± 9.03% vs. 39.56 ± 13.8 vs. 45.34 ± 8.3%; P < 0.05) and reduced neointima formation (1.53 ± 0.36 mm² vs. 2.51 ± 0.27 mm² vs. 2.66 ± 0.14 mm²; P < 0.05) by angiography and histomorphometric analysis. These data collectively imply that this new technology can be useful for stents and other biomedical devices by facilitating the controlled delivery of multiple biotherapeutics.

The early release of the VEGF gene might promote re-endothelialization, whereas the slow release of paclitaxel may suppress SMC proliferation. In an attempt to combine gene therapy and DES drug delivery for the effective inhibition of SMC proliferation while simultaneously promoting re-endothelialization and repair, Yang et al. ²⁰² have developed a stent coated with bi-layered PLGA nanoparticles containing VEGF₁₆₅ DNA plasmid in the outer layer and paclitaxel in the inner core. These BL-PLGA NPs were then coated to laser beam pre-treated BMSs with an automatic spray machine. Using Fc plasmid as a reporter gene, they observed that Fc/paclitaxel nanoparticles successfully expressed Fc protein but did not show cytotoxicity or antiproliferative effects during the first 7 days in cell culture (Figure 7). In contrast, paclitaxel nanoparticles demonstrated strong antiproliferative effects starting from day 1 in culture, suggesting the sequential release of gene and paclitaxel from the bi-layered PLGA nanoparticles. In vivo effects of the treated stent were assessed in mini-swines. The implantation of GFP/paclitaxel nanoparticle-coated stents revealed efficient local GFP gene transfection at day 7. VEGF/paclitaxel nanoparticle-coated stents demonstrated complete re-endothelialization and significantly suppressed ISR after 1 month compared to commercial DESs (Figure 8). These data suggest that the VEGF/paclitaxel nanoparticle-coated stents promote early endothelial healing while inhibiting SMC proliferation through the sequential release of the VEGF gene and paclitaxel. The VEGF/PTX NPs were successfully coated using spray-coating technology on metal coronary stents that were pre-treated to have a nonporous surface. In vitro experiments and in vivo animal studies both confirmed that the system could promote early endothelial healing and inhibit SMC proliferation via the sequential release of selected genes and drugs. The experimental studies of nanoparticle GESs for the prevention and treatment of coronary restenosis are shown in Table 2.

Figure 7.

Schematic diagrams of material design and function hypothesis. (A), the structure of bi-layered VEGF/PTX NPs and procedures of stent coating. The bare metal stents were pre-treated with laser beam which generates nano pores to increase the coating amount and stability. (B), assumed sequential release of VEGF/PTX and the mechanism of their function. The sequential releasing pattern allows rapid re-endothelialization in the early days and later inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier Ltd.

Figure 8.

Representative images of H & E staining of cross-sections 28 days after implantation. (A), bare stent; (B), blank NPs coated stent; (C), PTX NPs coated stent; (D), TAXUS^® stent; (E), VEGF NPs coated stent; (F), VEGF/PTX NPs coated stent. (× 40). Reproduced with permission from Elsevier Ltd.

Table 2.

Experimental studies of nanoparticle gene-eluting stents for coronary restenosis

Gene	Nanocarrier system	Finding	Reference
Akt1 siRNA	Hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated stent	Akt1 was released from the stent and suppressed the growth of the SMCs at the peri-stent implantation area; prevention of restenosis in the post-implantation phase in the rabbit balloon-injured external iliac artery	Che et al. 197
Anti-MCP1 (anti-CCL2)	Anti-MCP 1 gene-eluting stents	Attenuated stent-associated monocyte infiltration and neointima formation after one month in rabbits; long-term inhibitory effects on neointima formation at 1, 3, and 6 months in monkeys	Egashira et al. 179
Chitosan-plasmid DNA	Stents coated with dodecylated chitosan-plasmid DNA nanoparticles (DCDNPs)	Reporter gene activity was observed in the region of the artery in contact with the DCDNP stents in animals	Zhu et al. 87
pE-NTPdase (ENTPD)	pE-NTPDase stent (cationic gelatin-coated stents)	Increased E-NTPDase mRNA levels and NTPDase activity; inhibited subacute in-stent thrombosis, neointimal hyperplasia and inflammation in rabbit femoral arteries	Takemoto et al. 190
eNOS (NOS3)	Adenovirus gene-eluting stent	Enhanced endothelial regeneration and reduction in neointimal formation; prevented ISR while simultaneously reduced the risk of stent thrombosis	Sharif et al. 119
eNOS β-Gal	pDNA complexed with lipofectin (1:1 mixture of DOTMA and DOPE) to form lipoplexes; BiodivYsio HI matrix PC-coated premounted stents	Acceleration of re-endothelialization but no reduction in neointimal formation (i.e., does not reduce restenosis); prolonged and localized gene expression in rabbit iliac artery model with balloon denudation of endothelium or normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic rabbits	Sharif et al. 178
eNOS (NOS3)	Plasmid-mediated gene delivery from lipopolyplex-embedded stents	A potent non-viral gene vector encoding for eNOS coated onto a stent can inhibit restenosis through the inhibition of SMC growth and the promotion of a healthy endothelium	Brito et al. 189
GFP	DOTAP-PbAE-pDNA lipopolyplexes; stents coated with type B gelatin containing dispersed lipopolyplexes	Successful immobilization of LPP onto stents using gelatin; high cellular uptake and transfection efficiency human aortic SMCs and endothelial cells, and in rabbit iliac artery restenosis model with balloon denudation of endothelium; however, poorly sustained LPP delivery in vivo due to rapid dissolution of gelatin coating	Brito et al. 13
GFP	Cationic pDNA/PEI polyplexes; stents coated with dopamine-derivatized hyaluronic acid (HA-DA); pDNA/PEI polyplexes ionically adsorbed onto stent surface	Successful deposition of DNA/PEI polyplexes onto HA-DA-coated stents via electrostatic assembly; sustained and controlled pDNA release; high gene transfection efficiency and effective biocompatibility in COS-7 cells	Kim et al. 122
GFP luciferase iNOS	HL-modified adenovirus; PABT/PEI(PDT)-treated steel stents; covalent attachment of HL-modified Ad vectors to the PABT/PEI(PDT)-treated metal surfaces via HL cross-linker	Successful immobilization of adenovirus onto stents using a 3-component gene vector binding complex: PABT, PEI(PDT), HL; controlled and sustained release of Ad via hydrolyzable HL; localized transgene expression in rat aortic SMCs (A10) and in rat carotid stent angioplasty model; increase in nitric oxide production; inhibition of restenosis	Fishbein et al. 123
GFP	PLGA-coated stents	Successful arterial transfection using DNA-eluting stent in a pig stent angioplasty model	Klugherz et al. 177
GFP	pDNA; stents coated with collagen conjugated to anti-pDNA antibody via SPDP	High efficiency and site-specific gene delivery in rat aortic SMCs (A10) and in a rabbit carotid artery stent model	Jin et al. 180
GFP	pDNA/ denatured collagen	Denatured collagen incorporated into pDNA-stent coating increases the level of gene expression in rat arterial SMCs (A10) and in a porcine coronary artery stent model	Perlstein et al. 181
GFP	pDNA; stents coated with PAA-BP conjugated to anti-pDNA antibody via SPDP	High localization and efficient gene delivery in pig arterial SMCs	Wang et al. 182
GFP	Adenovirus/ stents coated with denatured collagen-PLGA coating conjugated to antiadenoviral anti- bodies	Efficient and highly localized gene delivery/ rat arterial SMCs (A10)/ porcine coronary artery stent model	Klugherz et al. 187
GFP	Adenovirus; stents coated with polylactide (PLA)-based nanoparticles conjugated to Ad-binding proteins	Increased gene transduction via coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR)-independent cellular uptake of Ad vector in rat aortic SMCs (A10), bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), and murine endothelioma cells (H5V)	Chorny et al. 188
VEGF2 (VEGFC)	Gene-eluting stent of naked plasmid DNA encoding for hVEGF-2	Acceleration of reendothelialization, prevention of restenosis	Walter et al. 124
VEGF Angiopoietin-1	Stent carrying endosomolytic Tat peptide/DNA nanoparticles or nanoparticles hybridized to polyacrylic acid (PAA) wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (nanoparticle-CNT)	Enhanced re-endothelialization of injured artery, attenuated stenosis and prevented neointima formation in balloon-injured canine femoral artery	Paul et al. 201
VEGF paclitaxel	Stent coated with bi-layered PLGA nanoparticles containing VEGF plasmid in the outer layer and paclitaxel in the inner core	Demonstrated complete re-endothelialization and significantly suppressed in-stent restenosis after 1 month in mini-swines	Yang et al. 202

Abbreviations: Anti-MCP 1, antimonocyte chemoattractant protein 1; DOPE, dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine; DOTAP, cationic 1-oleoyl-2-[6-[(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4- yl)amino] hexanoyl]-3-trimethylammonium propane; DOTMA cationic lipid, N-[1-(2,3- dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; ENTPD, ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase; GFP, green fluorescent protein; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; ISR, in-stent restenosis; LPP, liposomes or lipopolyplexes; PABT, polyallylamine bisphosphonate with latent thiol groups; PEI(PDT), polyethyleneimine with pyridyldithio groups; PLA, Poly(L-lactic acid); PLGA, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide; SMC, smooth muscle cells; SPDP, N- succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate; VEGF2, vascular endothelial growth factor 2; VEGFC, vascular endothelial growth factor C

Conclusion and future outlook

Following the first generation of sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents, a variety of new stent designs, coatings and locally delivered agents are emerging and most likely will become available in a few years' time. The development of DESs has been pioneered through a combination of an enhanced understanding of the biology of restenosis, the selection of drugs that target 1 or more pathways in the restenotic process, controlled-release drug delivery strategies, and the use of the stent as a delivery platform. An ideal DES polymer should be non-thrombotic, non-inflammatory, and non-toxic and should facilitate vascular healing by accelerating re-endothelialization ²⁰². The ideal drug to prevent restenosis must have antiproliferative and anti-migratory effects on SMCs but must also enhance re-endothelialization to prevent late thrombosis. Additionally, it should effectively inhibit the anti-inflammatory response after balloon-induced arterial injury. There is a need to develop an alternative to stents and DESs for the treatment of CAD. In the present review paper, we have evaluated the current research in the field of nanoparticle drug- or gene-eluting stents. Future work should focus on creating novel delivery systems that have less cytotoxic effects. The cytostatic drugs currently being used may not be the best option for the treatment of this disorder, as they do not promote endothelial growth. The work performed in the field of active targeting has produced a number of cell-specific targeting ligands that would enhance the delivery and retention of the nanoparticles in the restenotic lesion, resulting in increased efficacy of the therapeutic agent. Future studies should focus on creating biocompatible nanoparticles with targeting moieties to allow for increased tissue-specific delivery and cellular uptake with limited toxicity upon systemic administration ²⁰³. Future research is also mandatory to further clarify whether these patients should be treated with the same DES, with a different DES or with increased doses. Further improvements, including expansion of drug-loading capacity, coatings with programmable pharmacokinetic capacity and the discovery of new drugs may in the future further enhance the efficacy and safety of these stents.