Biodegradable Urinary Stents

Abstract

AbstractIn the twenty-first century, it is difficult to understand that a medical device as widely used as urinary stents require a second medical procedure for removal. Research in the development of biocompatible biodegradable urinary stents (BUS) has been one of the most important research areas of innovation in the urology stent technology. The main characteristics of a BUS are related to its ability to degrade into non-obstructive fragments in a predefined time and to be removed through micturition, after providing an appropriate internal scaffold effect and urinary drainage.One of the barriers slowing down the progress of research are the lack of agreement between in vitro and in vivo degradation rates demonstrated in a large number of experimental studies. Unfortunately, currently the absence of BUSs in clinical practice is mainly due to the complicated degradation rate control, maintenance of mechanical properties and safe urinary excretion of stent fragments. In order to alleviate the weak mechanical properties of degradable biomaterials, research has been started with metallic BUS with very promising results. In this regard, Mg2+ and its alloys have been used in in vitro and in vivo studies.Another area of current research is the emergence of ureteral BUS to provide a new approach for local drug delivery in upper urinary tract. Drugs may be released while the stent is degrading. Although these innovations are still under research, it is foreseeable that in the near future they could be used to improve the lives of patients.