Drug Eluting Stent Biodegradable Polymer Coating 2026
Drug Eluting Stent Biodegradable Polymer Coating Release Kinetics
Biodegradable polymer coatings on drug-eluting stents must balance precise drug-release kinetics with complete polymer clearance within 4–12 weeks post-implantation. This dataset spans foundational filings from 2001 through pending patents in 2026.
Biodegradable Polymer DES Coating: From Bulk Erosion to Precision Dissolution
The core technology encompasses biodegradable polymer coatings on metallic or polymeric stent scaffolds for controlled local delivery of antiproliferative drugs. Primary polymers documented in this dataset include PLA, PLGA, PCL, PTMC, PDLLA, P34HB polyhydroxyalkanoates, zein, and PEI-DOCA nanoparticle systems. Drugs delivered include sirolimus, everolimus, paclitaxel, biolimus, tacrolimus, cilostazol, and dipyridamole.
The dominant technical challenge across this dataset is managing release kinetics: preventing premature burst release, ensuring sustained delivery during the critical 30–90-day smooth muscle cell proliferation window, and achieving complete polymer clearance to permit full endothelial re-colonization. Coating adhesion integrity during balloon expansion is an equally prominent challenge, driving research into ductile polymer candidates and multi-layer architectures.
The field shows a clear progression from bulk-erosion polymer systems such as PLA and PLGA (first-generation, 2001–2010), to surface-erosion and multi-layer architectures (2010–2018), and now to precision-timed dissolution with endothelialization verification (2018–2026). PLGA (50:50) has been used as a sirolimus carrier at drug loadings of 100–140 µg/cm² with complete polymer degradation at 3 months in porcine models.
In this dataset, Alchimedics (France) is the most prolific assignee with at least 14 distinct patent records across 7 jurisdictions. Sino Medical Sciences Technology Inc. (China) is the second most active in recent filings with at least 7 records from 2018 through 2025. US filings are most numerous in retrieved records (~20+), followed by EP (~15) and IN (~8).
Patent Activity by Jurisdiction and Technology Cluster
Among patents with jurisdiction data in this dataset, US filings are most numerous (~20+ records), followed by EP (~15), IN (~8), WO (~7), CA (~6), and AU (~4). Four primary technology clusters are identifiable: blended matrix coatings, electro-grafted primer architectures, nanostructured/multi-layer coatings, and programmable delayed-onset systems.
Patent Records by Jurisdiction (Dataset Snapshot)
US and EP jurisdictions account for the largest shares of retrieved records in this dataset, with IN (India) more prominent than typical due to Alchimedics and Sino Medical Sciences filings.
↗ Click bars to explorePatent Records by Technology Cluster (Dataset Snapshot)
The electro-grafted primer architecture (Alchimedics) and blended matrix coatings (Boston Scientific, Sino Medical) together account for the largest share of patent records in this dataset.
↗ Click bars to exploreKey Application Domains for Biodegradable Polymer DES Coatings
Biodegradable polymer DES coatings are applied across four principal clinical and research domains documented in this dataset: coronary artery disease PCI, peripheral vascular disease, fully bioresorbable scaffold platforms, and next-generation nanofiber scaffold systems.
Coronary PCI — Restenosis Prevention
This is the dominant application domain across the entire dataset. PLGA (50:50) was used as a sirolimus carrier at drug loadings of 100–140 µg/cm² with complete polymer degradation at 3 months in porcine coronary artery models. The PERFORM-EVER registry (2022) demonstrated 1-year safety of biodegradable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (Tetrilimus, Sahajanand Medical Technologies) in real-world patients.
Coronary InterventionPeripheral Artery — Iliac Stenting
Peripheral artery disease applications appear through PCL-based electrospun coatings for stents tested in iliac artery positions, with tritium-labeled paclitaxel tracking through ex vivo rabbit arterial wall models. A 2021 literature study characterized how elongation of the electrospun coating affects paclitaxel release and transport through the arterial wall after stenting. Polyurethane membrane stents with porous structures for gastrointestinal or biliary applications also appear in this dataset.
Peripheral VascularFully Bioresorbable Scaffold Platforms
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (Abbott subsidiary) filed patents in 2008 and 2013 for systems where a fully bioabsorbable polymeric scaffold degrades at a faster rate than its bioabsorbable drug-eluting coating, allowing continued drug delivery after the structural scaffold has dissolved. Abbott Cardiovascular Systems (2017, WO) further disclosed PDLLA-based scaffold and therapeutic layer combinations with solvent-processing methods. This sub-application represents fully disappearing stents with kinetics-controlled residual drug delivery.
Bioresorbable Scaffold3D-Printed Bioresorbable Stent Coating
A 2022 literature study described PCL-based 3D-printed bioresorbable stents coated with PDLLA/dipyridamole nanofibers via electrospinning, combining additive manufacturing for scaffold geometry with electrospun biodegradable coatings for sustained release. The study demonstrated long-term in vitro drug release potential and hemocompatibility. Scitech Medical Inc. filed a pending AU patent in January 2026 covering a limus drug-containing biodegradable coating with drug:polymer ratios of 1.7:1 to 3.5:1 and 20 µm coating thickness on thermoplastic-lined stents.
Advanced ScaffoldKey Patent Assignees in Biodegradable Polymer DES Coatings (Retrieved Records)
In this dataset, Alchimedics (France) holds at least 14 patent records across 7 jurisdictions (2007–2024), making it the most prolific assignee in retrieved records. Sino Medical Sciences Technology Inc. (China) is the second most active in recent filings with at least 7 records across WO, EP, US, AU, and IN jurisdictions from 2018 through 2025.
Top Assignees by Filing Count in Retrieved Records (Dataset Snapshot)
↗ Click bars to exploreAlchimedics
Alchimedics (France) is the most prolific assignee in retrieved records, with at least 14 distinct patent records filed from 2007 through 2024 across US, EP, CA, WO, SG, IN, and HK jurisdictions. The company’s patents exclusively cover an electro-grafted primer architecture: a covalently bonded primer layer on the stent surface atop which a 1–200 µm biodegradable polymer drug-hosting layer degrades completely within 4 weeks, enabling full endothelial recolonization within 28 days. Many family members carry active legal status, with the most recent IN filing dated 2024.
FranceSino Medical Sciences Technology Inc.
Sino Medical Sciences Technology Inc. (China) is the second most active assignee in recent retrieved records, with at least 7 patent records across WO, EP, US, AU, and IN jurisdictions filed from 2018 through 2025. Its filings target programmed dissolution timing: drug release maximum at SMC proliferation peak, near-zero by day 30, and complete coating dissolution by days 45–90. Active prosecution continues with a US pending application (2025) and an IN pending application (2024).
ChinaFive Emerging Directions in Biodegradable Polymer DES Coatings (2022–2026)
Based on the most recent filings and literature in this dataset (2022–2026), five directional signals are evident: IPN coatings for adhesion durability, PHA next-generation polymers, precision-timed SMC-biology dissolution, 3D-printed nanofiber scaffold coatings, and natural/novel biopolymer systems.
Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) Coatings for Peeling Durability
Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha’s 2024 filings (US and EP, both pending) introduce a three-layer architecture: a polydopamine-based first layer formed by autoxidation polymerization, a covalently bonded second polymer layer, and a third drug-carrier layer where the second and third polymers form an IPN structure. This approach directly targets peeling durability — the historical weakness of biodegradable polymer coatings during balloon expansion — while maintaining sustained release kinetics. Both US and EP applications carry pending status as of 2024.
P34HB Polyhydroxyalkanoate as Next-Generation Coating Polymer
P34HB (poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) is emerging as a candidate to replace PLA and PLGA due to superior ductility and resistance to coating delamination post-balloon expansion. Two 2022 literature studies systematically characterized its release kinetics: increasing polymer concentration from 8 mg/mL to 28 mg/mL and adjusting drug:polymer ratios from 1:10 to 1:2 produced systematically altered release rates. These studies demonstrated tunability comparable to established polyesters, positioning P34HB as a viable next-generation coating material.
Electro-Grafted Primer Architecture vs. Blended Matrix Approach: Key Dimensions
Click any row to explore further.
| Dimension | Electro-Grafted Primer (Alchimedics) | Blended Matrix Coating (Boston Scientific / Sino Medical) |
|---|---|---|
| Coating Architecture | Covalently bonded primer layer + separate biodegradable drug-hosting layer; two-layer system | Single or bilayer physical blend or copolymer of degradable polyesters (e.g. PLA-PEO + PLA-PCL) |
| Polymer Adhesion Method | Electrochemical grafting creates covalent bond to metal stent surface | Dip-coating, spray-coating, or solvent-based deposition; relies on physical adhesion |
| Degradation Timeline | Biodegradable outer layer degrades completely within 4 weeks; full endothelial recolonization within 28 days | Dissolution targeted at 45–90 days (Sino Medical); PLGA complete degradation at ~3 months in porcine models |
| Release Kinetics Control | Coating thickness (1–200 µm, typically 1–10 µm) and polymer selection control release rate | Hydrophilic/hydrophobic copolymer ratio and drug:polymer ratio; e.g. drug:polymer 1:10 to 1:2 in P34HB systems |
| Endothelialization Strategy | Primer promotes endothelial cell migration and adhesion after outer layer degrades | Drug release programmed to cease at day 30–45 to permit endothelial recovery (Sino Medical approach) |
| Key Patent Status | Active US (2018), active EP (2014, 2019), active IN (2024); 14+ records in this dataset | Boston Scientific US (2001, foundational); Sino Medical US pending (2025), IN pending (2024); 7+ records in this dataset |
| Primary Drug Payload | Sirolimus, everolimus, paclitaxel, biolimus, tacrolimus (multiple drugs specified) | Paclitaxel (Boston Scientific, 2001); sirolimus, everolimus (Sino Medical); cilostazol (Jimro) |
| Jurisdictional Reach | US, EP, CA, WO, SG, IN, HK (7 jurisdictions in this dataset) | US, EP, WO, CA, AU, IN (Boston Scientific + Sino Medical combined, in this dataset) |
Frequently Asked Questions: Biodegradable Polymer DES Coating Release Kinetics
The field targets complete polymer disappearance within defined therapeutic windows — typically 4 to 12 weeks post-implantation. The Alchimedics electro-grafted architecture targets complete degradation within 4 weeks (28 days), while Sino Medical Sciences Technology targets complete coating dissolution by days 45–90 to optimize the SMC suppression and endothelial recovery trade-off.
Primary polymers documented in this dataset include polylactic acid (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) specifically P34HB, zein, and polyethyleneimine-deoxycholic acid (PEI-DOCA) nanoparticle systems.
In this dataset, Alchimedics (France) is the most prolific assignee with at least 14 distinct patent records across US, EP, CA, WO, SG, IN, and HK jurisdictions, covering its electro-grafted primer + biodegradable release layer architecture from 2007 through 2024. Many of these family members carry active legal status.
Alchimedics uses electrochemical grafting to create a covalently bonded primer layer on the metal stent surface, atop which a thin biodegradable polymer drug-hosting layer (1–200 µm, typically 1–10 µm) is deposited. The primer promotes endothelial cell migration and adhesion, while the biodegradable outer layer is engineered to degrade completely within 4 weeks, enabling full endothelial recolonization within 28 days.
P34HB (poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) is emerging as a candidate to replace PLA and PLGA due to superior ductility and resistance to coating delamination after balloon expansion. Two 2022 literature studies showed that increasing polymer concentration from 8 mg/mL to 28 mg/mL and adjusting drug:polymer ratios from 1:10 to 1:2 produced systematically altered release rates, demonstrating tunability comparable to established polyesters.
The most recent filings in this dataset are from 2024–2026. Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha filed US and EP pending patents in 2024 for an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) architecture. Sino Medical Sciences Technology Inc. continued prosecution into India and the US (2024–2025). Scitech Medical Inc. filed a pending AU patent in January 2026 covering limus drug-containing biodegradable coatings on thermoplastic-lined stents with drug:polymer ratios of 1.7:1 to 3.5:1 and 20 µm coating thickness.
Data and insights on this page are based on a limited patent and literature dataset and are for reference only. Figures may not represent the complete technology landscape.