An international research team composed of scientific institutions from Germany, Switzerland, and China recently achieved significant progress in the field of biomedical magnesium alloys—successfully developing a novel biodegradable magnesium alloy cardiovascular stent. Animal experiment results show that the stent completely degrades within 6 months after implantation, with a degradation rate highly matching the vascular healing process, and no adverse reactions such as inflammation or thrombosis were observed.
Traditional permanent metal stents remain in the body long after vascular healing, potentially causing complications such as late thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. The emergence of biodegradable magnesium alloy stents provides a new solution to this problem. By optimizing magnesium alloy composition and microstructure, the research team precisely controlled the stent's degradation rate, allowing it to gradually degrade while supporting the vascular wall, ultimately being safely absorbed by the body.
It is reported that the stent has completed all preclinical animal experiments and is scheduled to enter human clinical trials by the end of 2026. If progress goes smoothly, it could achieve commercial application within 3-5 years, offering safer and more effective treatment options for coronary heart disease patients. The research team stated that next step they will continue optimizing the mechanical properties and degradation behavior of magnesium alloy stents, exploring applications in more fields such as peripheral vessels and pediatric vasculature.