Next-generation biodegradable cardiovascular stents: integrating biosensors and personalized drug delivery for improved outcomes

Cardiovascular stents have evolved from bare metal stents to drug-eluting stents, improving outcomes in coronary interventions but posing risks of late thrombosis, inflammation, and long-term safety concerns. Biodegradable stents represent the next generation of innovation, designed to degrade into non-toxic products while minimizing inflammatory responses. Recent advances suggest further potential through the integration of biosensors and personalized drug delivery systems. Biosensors allow real-time monitoring of endothelial healing, inflammatory activity, restenosis, and local drug levels, enabling early detection of complications and timely intervention. Personalized drug release, guided by patient-specific profiles and comorbidities, can optimize therapeutic efficacy while reducing adverse effects. Although biodegradable stents face challenges related to mechanical strength, degradation timing, and implantation complexity, their combination with intelligent biosensing and adjustable drug delivery systems offers a transformative approach to reducing cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The integration of these technologies may redefine future standards in interventional cardiology.