Biodegradable stent and method for manufacturing the same

1. A stent comprising:

a magnesium-dominant metallic layer;

a ceramic layer formed over the magnesium-dominant metallic layer; and

a magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprising MgF 2 and interposed between the metallic layer and the ceramic layer.

2. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the stent comprises a wired structure, which has a cross-section comprising a core formed of the magnesium-dominant metallic layer, the non-metallic layer surrounding the core, the ceramic layer surrounding the non-metallic layer.

3. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium-dominant metallic layer comprises magnesium in an amount of about 90 wt % or more.

4. The stent of claim 3 , wherein the magnesium-dominant metallic layer additionally contains one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca), zirconium (Zr), yttrium (Y), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), strontium (Sr), chromium (Cr), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe).

5. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic layer has a thickness of about 0.05 μm to about 1.5 μm.

6. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layer comprises at least one of hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ).

7. The stent of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layer has a thickness of about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm.

8. A method of making the stent of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing a structure comprising the magnesium-dominant metallic layer and the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprising MgF 2 over the metallic layer; and

forming the ceramic layer over the structure such that the non-metallic layer is interposed between the metallic layer and the ceramic layer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the structure comprises:

providing the magnesium-dominant metallic layer; and sputtering a magnesium-containing compound to provide the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprising MgF 2 over the metallic layer.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the structure comprises:

providing a magnesium-dominant metallic material; and

converting magnesium in surfaces of the magnesium-dominant metallic material to a magnesium-containing compound such that the magnesium-containing compound surrounds the magnesium-dominant metallic material.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprises magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ).

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) is formed by fluorination of the magnesium-dominant metallic material on surfaces thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 , additionally comprising, subsequent to converting, subjecting the structure to a temperature from about 200° C. to about 500° C.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ceramic layer is formed by vacuum powder spraying of a ceramic material over the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ceramic layer is formed by applying a hydroxyapatite powder or titanium dioxide powder having a particle size of about 1 to about 5 μm over the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer.

16. A method of making the stent of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing a magnesium-dominant metallic material in a stent shape;

forming the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprising MgF 2 over the magnesium-dominant metallic material; and forming the ceramic layer over the magnesium-containing compound layer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the magnesium-containing compound non-metallic layer comprises processing the magnesium-dominant metallic material to convert a portion of magnesium of the magnesium-dominant metallic material into a magnesium-containing compound thereby forming the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer that surrounds the magnesium-dominant metallic material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the magnesium-containing non-metallic layer comprises sputtering a magnesium-containing compound onto a surface of the magnesium-dominant metallic material.