Abstract:
In the recent advancements in the field of coronary artery diseases, drug-eluting stents have
gained a lot of recognition and significance due to their ability to play the vital roles in regulating
problems like restenosis, vessel blockage, occlusion, etc. In this study, blends of Polycaprolactone
(PCL) and Chitosan were prepared as the drug carriers in which the coronary stents were coated
with bi-layer drug-loaded coatings. Entirely variant compositions of blends were prepared using
an intense blend mixer. The compositions were hot pressed in composite press and cold pressed to
prepare the sheets of different thickness. Different tests were performed to analyze the changes in
weight loss, surface morphology and biodegradability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
weight loss, and biodegradability tests. Thermal gravimetric chemical analysis and Fourier
Transform Infrared Microscopy were also done for thermal and functional group analysis. In-vitro
drug content analysis was performed to investigate the effects of PCL, Chitosan, and the drug
using UV-Vis chemical analysis technique. The outcomes unequivocally demonstrated that while
the promotion of Chitosan almost completely failed to promote the drug release, the addition of
PCL did. The composition of blend portions can be changed to modify the mechanical
characteristics of these different films. When assessing the efficacy of bioresorbable drug-eluting
stents, the variables driving the drug's release become a very important concern. Consequently,
the chemical blends that are being employed may be useful drug carrier materials for coatings for
drug-loaded tubing that can release drug in a very controlled and customizable way.
