Corroded Iron Stent Increased Fibrin Deposition to Promote Endothelialization after Stenting

Post-stent restenosis caused by insufficient endothelialization and is recognized as one of the most serious clinical complications of stenting. We observed a rapid endothelialization rate and increased fibrin deposition on the surface of corroded iron stents. Thus, we hypothesized that corroded iron stents promote endothelialization by increasing fibrin deposition on rough surfaces. To verify this hypothesis, we conducted an arteriovenous shunt experiment to analyze fibrin deposition in corroded iron stents. We implanted a corroded iron stent in both the carotid artery and iliac artery bifurcation to elucidate the effects of fibrin deposition on endothelialization. Co-culture experiments were additionally conducted under dynamic flow conditions to explore the underlying relationship between fibrin deposition and rapid endothelialization. Our findings indicated that owing to the generation of corrosion pits, the surface of the corroded iron stent was rough, and numerous fibrins were deposited in the corroded iron stent. Fibrin deposition in corroded iron stents facilitate endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation, which in turn promotes endothelialization after stenting. Taken together, our study elucidated the role of iron stent corrosion in endothelialization for the first time, pointing to a new direction for preventing clinical complications caused by insufficient endothelialization.