Biodegradable drug delivery vascular stent
A stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape for insertion into a lumen of a vessel of a living being. The tubular main body includes a substantially biodegradable matrix having collagen IV and laminin that enclose voids within the matrix. The tubular main body also includes a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix to strengthen the matrix. The tubular main body is essentially saturated with drugs.
1. A method of making a biodegradable stent comprising:
forming a biodegradable material into a generally tubular main body for insertion into a body lumen of a living being wherein the body lumen has a lumen wall, the tubular main body has an outer surface, and the biodegradable material comprises:
a substantially biodegradable matrix comprising collagen IV, laminin, and one or more drugs; and
a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable strengthening material comprises polylactic acid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drugs comprise a plurality of microencapsulated drugs.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable matrix further comprises a glycosaminoglucuronan.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the glycosaminoglucuronan comprises heparin.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular main body is a coiled strip.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the biodegradable material with an application of energy of a magnitude ineffective to cause bonding between the biodegradable material and the lumen wall.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the energy causes an increase in temperature of the biodegradable material above the glass transition temperature of the biodegradable material.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biodegradable material is treated with an application of mechanical energy of a magnitude less than the elastic limit of the biodegradable material.
10. A method of making a biodegradable stent comprising:
forming a biodegradable material by contacting a substantially biodegradable matrix with a biodegradable strengthening material to strengthen the matrix, wherein the biodegradable strengthening material includes a plurality of microcapsules containing a material capable of inducing crosslinking of the biodegradable strengthening material;
forming the biodegradable material into a generally tubular main body in the form of a coiled strip for insertion into a lumen of a vessel;
applying energy to the biodegradable material, wherein the application of energy causes a rupture of the microcapsules and a release of the material inducing crosslinking of the biodegradable strengthening material.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tubular main body is saturated with drugs.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the matrix comprises voids therein.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the matrix comprises collagen IV and laminin.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy causes an increase in temperature of the biodegradable material above the glass transition temperature of the biodegradable material.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the biodegradable material is treated with an application of mechanical energy of a magnitude less than the elastic limit of the biodegradable material.
16. A biodegradable stent made by the process comprising:
forming a biodegradable material into a generally tubular main body for insertion into a body lumen of a living being, wherein the tubular main body has an outer surface, and the biodegradable material comprises:
a substantially biodegradable matrix comprising collagen IV, laminin, and a drug; and
a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix to strengthen the matrix.
17. The biodegradable stent of claim 16 , wherein the biodegradable strengthening material comprises polylactic acid.
18. The biodegradable stent of claim 16 , wherein the drug comprises a plurality of microencapsulated drugs.
19. The biodegradable stent of claim 16 , wherein the biodegradable matrix further comprises a glycosaminoglucuronan.
20. The biodegradable stent of claim 19 , wherein the glycosaminoglucuronan comprises heparin.