The influence of arterial disease and age in the biological response to arterial metal implants by Jeremy Goldman

Metal stents to treat arterial diseases of older humans are routinely designed and developed using young disease-free animals. Such animal models are used despite the significant declines of tissue regeneration, cell proliferation, and inflammation in aged humans and the profound cellular and structural changes present in diseased arteries that are not reflected in young healthy animals. Data collected from these animal models often fails to predict the device performance in humans. The widespread use of age- and disease- mismatched animals is particularly a concern for the testing of interactive materials, such as biodegradable metals whose dynamic interfaces continuously impact local cell and tissue regenerative processes. In order to determine the importance and impact of arterial disease and age in stent material biocompatibility, including that of biodegradable metals, we implanted various metals into the arteries of atherogenic Apoe-/- mice and aged rats, using the simplified geometry of a wire. This seminar will describe the findings.

Speaker: Prof. Jeremy Goldman, Michigan Technological University, USA.