| Biocompatibility of Coronary Stents | | By | Josh DeBoer | Prepared for Dr. Lim Term PaperAdvanced Biomaterials (Engm 491)4/27/11 |

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Abstract
Right now, endovascular stents have less than desirable biocompatibility, resulting in many unwanted complications. Plasma activated coatings (PAC) have shown great promise to make endothelial cell interactions more active by using recombinant human tropoelastin. These articles seek to alter the plasma vapor composition of these coating properties by adding oxygen, argon, nitrogen, or hydrogen. Each of these gases had pros and cons, and these articles seek to find the best combination for these coatings.

Background
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the world, killing more than 15 million people according to the American Heart Association. It has many risk factors, including: * Diabetes * High blood pressure * High LDL "bad" cholesterol * Low HDL "good" cholesterol * Menopause * Not getting enough physical activity or exercise * Obesity * Radiotherapy to the chest, * Hypertension, * Hyperlipidemia. * Smoking
Coronary heart disease is usually caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and a substance called plaque builds up on the walls of a person’s arteries. This causes the coronary arteries to narrow, blocking or slowing blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain (stable angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, and other symptoms.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) alone is the primary cause of death in the United States, accounting for 20% of all deaths. CHD is partially caused by uncontrollable factors such as genetics and age, but fortunately, CHD is largely preventable. By examining the risk factors associated with CHD, one can maximize prevention recommendations and enhance their