Aim:The use of currently marketed drug-eluting stents presents safety concerns including increased late thrombosis, which is thought to result mainly from delayed endothelial healing effects (impaired re-endothelialization resulting in abnormal inflammation and fibrin deposition). We recently developed a bioabsorbable polymeric nanoparticle (NP)-eluting stent using a novel cationic electrodeposition technology. Statins are known to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and to promote vascular healing. We therefore hypothesized that statin-incorporated NPeluting stents would attenuate in-stent stenosis without delayed endothelial healing effects. Methods: Among six marketed statins, pitavastatin (Pitava) was found to have the most potent effects on VSMC proliferation and endothelial regeneration in vitro. We thus formulated a Pitava-NP-eluting stent (20 μg Pitava per stent). Results: In a pig coronary artery model, Pitava-NP-eluting stents attenuated in-stent stenosis as effectively as polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). At SES sites, delayed endothelial healing effects were noted, whereas no such effects were observed in Pitava-NP-eluting stent sites. Conclusion: Pitava-NP-eluting stents attenuated in-stent stenosis as effectively as SES without the delayed endothelial healing effects of SES in a porcine coronary artery model. This nanotechnology platform could be developed into a safer and more effective device in the future.

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