Influence of different stent materials on endothelialization in vitro

The objective of our study was to investigate the influence of different st ent materials on endothelialization in vitro. Using the non-destructive Ala mar Blue assay and scanning electron microscopy, we compared long-term grow th and morphology of vascular cells on disks of three prospective stent mat erials, i.e., 316 L stainless steel, 18 K, and 24 It gold. Our results demonstrate superior human EC proliferative capacity on gold su rfaces compared to that on 316 L stainless steel. Thus, both the hyperplasi a and thrombotic complications which often follow stenting might be minimiz ed by employing gold stents, which have a greater capacity than steel in su pporting a functional neo-endothelium.