Novel coatings releasing synergistic polyphenols promote vascular healing

PROJECT SUMMARY Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. Left untreated, CVD can result in the occlusion of key arteries that can precipitate a major cardiac event. Clinicians routinely correct arterial blockages mechanically using a balloon expansion of the lesioned area and placement of a metallic stent to help keep the arteries open. However, the overstretch of the vessel that takes place during the intervention is damaging to the artery wall. This damage often precipitates a re-narrowing of the artery (restenosis) due to the proliferation of smooth muscle cells within the vascular wall. Drug-eluting stents (DES) were developed to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, but have the disadvantage that while keeping the arteries open, they also prevent the relining of the vessel wall with a functional endothelial cell layer. This requires that patients undergo long-term treatment with dual anti-platelet therapies in order to prevent rare, but often fatal late-term clo