PURPOSE: To physiologically test the durability of a sutureless aortic stent-graft based on nitinol bonded to polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and poly(carbonate-urea) urethane (PCU) for 10 years according to Food and Drug Administration guidelines. METHODS: Aortic stent-grafts (n = 4) were tested in 37°C distilled water using simulated in vivo hydrodynamic pulse loading. After 400 million cycles, surface topography was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dynamic compliance was measured using a pulsatile flow phantom. Mechanical and elastic properties were determined by stress-strain studies and elastic deformation tests. Dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) were used to assess thermal resistance. Comparison was made with a zero-cycled control. RESULTS: All stent-grafts successfully completed accelerated pulsatile fatigue at 94±14-mmHg pulse pressure. SEM images confirmed uniform surface topography without any fractures. FTIR showed increased intensity of -NHCO- bonds, but there was no significant sign of biodegradation. Tensile stress of fatigue-tested polymer compared favorably with the zero-cycled control at 50% to 500% strain (p = 0.69). At a mean pressure range of 60 to 120 mmHg, overall compliance of the fatigue-tested grafts was 3.48±1.27%mmHg(-1)×10(-2) with no significant difference compared to control (3.26±0.65%mmHg(-1)×10(-2); p = 0.47). DSC and TMA showed comparable thermotropic transition. CONCLUSION: Simulated physiological in vivo hydrodynamic loading has no significant degradative effect on an innovative sutureless stent-graft made from POSS-PCU nanocomposite polymer. Sutureless technology incorporating nitinol stents proved to be robust, with no separation over an accelerated 10-year cycle, which may allow development of durable stent-grafts with better compliance.
PURPOSE: To physiologically test the durability of a sutureless aortic stent-graft based on nitinol bonded to polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and poly(carbonate-urea) urethane (PCU) for 10 years according to Food and Drug Administration guidelines. METHODS: Aortic stent-grafts (n = 4) were tested in 37°C distilled water using simulated in vivo hydrodynamic pulse loading. After 400 million cycles, surface topography was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dynamic compliance was measured using a pulsatile flow phantom. Mechanical and elastic properties were determined by stress-strain studies and elastic deformation tests. Dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) were used to assess thermal resistance. Comparison was made with a zero-cycled control. RESULTS: All stent-grafts successfully completed accelerated pulsatile fatigue at 94±14-mmHg pulse pressure. SEM images confirmed uniform surface topography without any fractures. FTIR showed increased intensity of -NHCO- bonds, but there was no significant sign of biodegradation. Tensile stress of fatigue-tested polymer compared favorably with the zero-cycled control at 50% to 500% strain (p = 0.69). At a mean pressure range of 60 to 120 mmHg, overall compliance of the fatigue-tested grafts was 3.48±1.27%mmHg(-1)×10(-2) with no significant difference compared to control (3.26±0.65%mmHg(-1)×10(-2); p = 0.47). DSC and TMA showed comparable thermotropic transition. CONCLUSION: Simulated physiological in vivo hydrodynamic loading has no significant degradative effect on an innovative sutureless stent-graft made from POSS-PCU nanocomposite polymer. Sutureless technology incorporating nitinol stents proved to be robust, with no separation over an accelerated 10-year cycle, which may allow development of durable stent-grafts with better compliance.
Authors: Lara Yildirimer; Asma Buanz; Simon Gaisford; Edward L Malins; C Remzi Becer; Naiem Moiemen; Gary M Reynolds; Alexander M Seifalian Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2015-10-14 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Benyamin Rahmani; Spyros Tzamtzis; Rose Sheridan; Michael J Mullen; John Yap; Alexander M Seifalian; Gaetano Burriesci Journal: J Cardiovasc Transl Res Date: 2016-12-27 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Aaron Tan; Yasmin Farhatnia; Debbie Goh; Natasha G; Achala de Mel; Jing Lim; Swee-Hin Teoh; Andrey V Malkovskiy; Reema Chawla; Jayakumar Rajadas; Brian G Cousins; Michael R Hamblin; Mohammad S Alavijeh; Alexander M Seifalian Journal: Biointerphases Date: 2013-08-23 Impact factor: 2.456