Interfacing exogenous stents with human coronary artery by self-assembled coating: designs, functionalities and applications

Drug-eluting stents are a commonly used treatment for coronary artery disease. However, the coatings used in drug-eluting stents have some limitations such as poor biocompatibility and drug loading capacity. In recent years, self-assembly methods have emerged as a promising alternative for stent coatings. Self-assembled coatings employ biomaterials and offer several advantages over traditional coatings, including thinner thickness, stronger binding capacity, and better biocompatibility. This review discusses the latest research on self-assembled biomaterial-based coatings for drug-eluting stents. We explore how layer-by-layer coatings and composite coating films have been utilized to load and release drugs with high drug loading capacity and biocompatibility, as well as how they promote endothelial adhesion and growth. Additionally, we examine how self-assembled coatings have been used to release active molecules for anti-coagulation and deliver gene therapy. Moreover, we discuss the potential of self-assembled coatings for future development, including intelligent targeted drug delivery, bionic stent coatings, and 3D printed stent coatings. These advancements have the potential to further improve the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents in treating coronary artery disease.