Fig 1.
Coating thickness of differently coated DCB.
Representative light microscopic micrographs (left) and height profiles (xz scans, right) determined by confocal microscopy of Cetpyrsal/PTX coating (top), HA/PTX coating (middle) and PVP/PTX coating (bottom). The indicated thickness ± SD has been averaged over 8 positions along the PEBAX tube fitted to a stainless steel pin with ten measurement points each (right).
Fig 2.
Trackability of differently coated DCB.
Trackability as the resulting force at the proximal end of the catheter during the passage of a vessel model, diagram shows force-distance curves of differently coated balloon catheter in comparison to an uncoated catheter of the same type. The insert shows a scheme of the test set up according to [23]. In fact, the curves show averages of 3 experiments per balloon type (3 different coatings or uncoated).
Fig 3.
Crossability of differently coated DCB.
Crossability as the resulting force at the distal end of the catheter during the passage of a model stenosis, diagram shows force-distance curves of differently coated balloon catheter in comparison to an uncoated catheter of the same type. The insert shows a scheme of the test set up according to [23]. In fact, the curves show averages of 3 experiments per balloon type (3 different coatings or uncoated).
Fig 4.
Morphological analysis of differently coated DCB.
Representative photos (a-d) and ESEM-micrographs (e-l) for the examination of the surface morphology of differently coated balloon catheter in comparison to an uncoated balloon, e-h: magnification 40x, i-l: magnification 500x.
Fig 5.
Results of simulated use test of differently coated DCB.
Drug loss during track, drug transfer in silicone tube, residual drug load and totalized drug load of differently coated DCB after simulated use in a vessel model according to ASTM F2394-07, X.2.4. Bars show mean ± SD of 5 experiments (* p<0.05), a-c: representative ESEM-micrographs of the differently coated balloon catheter after simulated use in the vessel model.
Table 1.
Particles lost and released after simulated use in in vitro vessel model.