Title

Medical applications of poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) ("SIBS")

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2008

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Poly(Styrene-block-IsoButylene-block-Styrene) ("SIBS") is a biostable thermoplastic elastomer with physical properties that overlap silicone rubber and polyurethane. Initial data collected with SIBS stent-grafts and coatings on metallic stents demonstrate hemocompatibility, biocompatibility and long-term stability in contact with metal. SIBS has been used successfully as the carrier for a drug-eluting coronary stent; specifically Boston Scientific's TAXUS stent, and its uses are being investigated for ophthalmic implants to treat glaucoma, synthetic heart valves to possibly replace tissue valves and other applications. At present, researchers developing medical devices utilizing SIBS have found the following: (1) SIBS does not substantially activate platelets in the vascular system; (2) polymorphonuclear leukocytes in large numbers are not commonly observed around SIBS implants in the vascular system or in subcutaneous implants or in the eye; (3) myofibroblasts, scarring and encapsulation are not clinically significant with SIBS implanted in the eye; (4) embrittlement has not been observed in any implant location; (5) calcification within the polymer has not been observed; and (6) degradation has not been observed in any living system to date. Some deficiencies of SIBS that need to be addressed include creep deformation in certain load-bearing applications and certain sterilization requirements. The reason for the excellent biocompatibility of SIBS may be due to the inertness of SIBS and lack of cleavable moieties that could be chemotactic towards phagocytes. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ®

DOI

10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.09.041

First Page

448

Last Page

460

Publication Title

Biomaterials

Comments

At the time of publication, Richard T. Schoephoerster was affiliated with Florida International University.

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