Bioengineering cobalt chromium cardiovascular stent biomaterial for surface enhancement and characterization

A principal requirement for biomedical alloys in device implantation is in vivo corrosion resistance, and optimal compatibility at the implant interface. In the context of materials science, biocompatibility is the ability of a material to assist a specific biological application and elicit an appropriate response, simulated in vitro or translated in vivo. The in vivo response of a device is dependent on the biological conditions it encounters (Bertrand et al. 1998). The objective of tissue engineering studies aim to assess biocompatibility of devices within physiological conditions in vitro, prior to their implantation in a preclinical, translational model in vivo (Waterhouse et al. 2012). Cobalt chromium super alloys are at present increasingly selected in the medical device industry as laser-cut, cardiovascular stents for implantation, as they meet three key selection criteria; 1. Reduced strut thickness for improved deliverability/device position in vivo, 2. Reduced total stent volume contributing to reduced restenosis 3. In vivo corrosion resistance and general biocompatibility (Cohen 1998).