In vitro cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties of biodegradable Zn-Cu-Fe alloys for cardiovascular stents applications.

In the present study, the effects of Zn-3Cu-xFe (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5 wt%) alloys on endothelial cells (EA.hy926) and smooth muscle cells (A7r5), the hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties were also evaluated. The cell viability of EA.hy926 cells and A7r5 cells decreased with the increasing of extract concentration. At the same Zn2+ concentration (over 6 ppm), the cell viability of EA.hy926 cells increased with the addition of Cu or Cu and Fe content, but no significant effect on A7r5 cells was observed. The hemolysis rate of Zn-3Cu-xFe alloys samples was about 1%, and there was no adversely affected on platelets adhering to the surface of the Zn alloys. As Fe content increases in the Zn-Cu-Fe alloys, the antibacterial lower concentrations against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was improved due to the higher degradation rate and more Zn2+ and Cu2+ released. Our previous study already showed that the Zn-Cu-Fe alloy exhibited excellent mechanical properties and moderate degradation rate. Based on the above results, the in vitro biocompatibilities and antibacterial properties of Zn-3Cu alloy are significantly improved by the alloying of trace Fe, and the hemocompatibility is not adversely affected, which indicated that Zn-Cu-Fe alloy is a promising vascular stents candidate material.