Polymer-coated stents, processes for producing the same and their use for restenosis prevention

摘要

A polymer-coated stent comprises a stent base coated with a polymer containing hydrophilic substances (I) with strong affinity for therapeutic agents. Claimed manufacture of the stent involves gas phase coating of the metal base with a functional polymer at elevated temperature and reduced pressure; a complexing agent (as (I)) is then bound to the polymer's functional groups (optionally after treatment with a solution that containing spacer molecules). Alternatively the stent is coated by plasma polymerisation, followed by treatment with the complexing agent (optionally after application of the spacer molecule).