Material‐Driven Enhancement of Intrinsic X‐Ray Radiopacity in Additively Manufactured Biodegradable Stents

OpenAlex İngilizce

Biodegradable intravascular stents provide significant clinical advantages by avoiding long‐term complications caused by permanent metallic implants. Nevertheless, their poor radiopacity under X‐ray imaging has remained a major limitation, restricting precise intraoperative placement and reliable follow‐up monitoring. This study addresses the challenge by developing a composite filament composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and uniformly dispersed tantalum (Ta) microparticles at concentrations between 0.1 and 1.0 wt%. Filaments were fabricated through a two‐step extrusion process: twin‐screw compounding for uniform particle dispersion, followed by single‐screw extrusion for consistent dimensional tolerances, enabling fused deposition modeling‐based 3D‐printing. Intravascular stents were designed, printed, and implanted into a multilumen vascular phantom for radiographic evaluation. Radiopacity was assessed qualitatively using angiographic and radiographic imaging under clinically relevant conditions. Results revealed that Ta incorporation significantly improved X‐ray visibility, with optimal reinforcement of 0.75 wt% for angiography and 0.5 wt% for radiography. Above these levels, excess scattering and contrast saturation caused image blurring. The findings validate a scalable, marker‐free strategy that maintains biodegradability while providing real‐time stent visualization during angioplasty and throughout degradation. Additionally, the radiopaque feature facilitates integration with drug‐eluting designs and imaging‐based monitoring. Overall, the PLA–Ta system offers a clinically feasible solution to visibility limitations, enhancing procedural accuracy, complication detection, and patient outcomes.