A comparison of the biodegradable stents (n = 5) and the metallic stents (n = 5) under the compression test (A) with maximum 30% compression strain (Initial diameter of the Audio & video cable tie DES and BMS: (B and D) maximum 30% compression load: (C and E).
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Both metallic and fabricated stents were also measured for collapse pressures. The collapse pressure of the metallic stent was 2.53 ± 0.11 kg/cm2, compared to 1.36 ± 0.14 kg/cm2 of the Audio & video cable-tie biodegradable stent (p < 0.001). Figure 5 shows variations in weight of the fabricated stents with time. The weight of the biodedradable stents decreased to 92 ± 1.3% at 16 weeks, indicating that they underwent material degradation over time.

Figure 5
Figure 5
Weight change of the biodegradable stents with time (n = 5).
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The surface of a newly fabricated PLLA stent is presented using SEM in Fig. 6. The surface was smooth, despite some roughness that was due to the mold surface during Audio & video cable the solvent casting process (Fig. 6A). Figure 6B shows micrographs of a fabricated stent after 16 weeks elution in PBS at 37 °C. On surface area, no significant appearances of stent degradation on surface were noted (500X) according to SEM.

Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM photo of the stent surface, (A) before elution, and (B) 16 weeks after the elution process (n = 5) (scale bar = 50 μm).