A fucoidan-loaded hydrogel coating for enhancing corrosion resistance, hemocompatibility and endothelial cell growth of magnesium alloy for cardiovascular stents

Although magnesium alloy has received tremendous attention in biodegradable cardiovascular stents, the poor in vivo corrosion resistance and limited endothelialization are still the bottlenecks for its application in cardiovascular stents. Fabrication of the multifunctional bioactive coating with excellent anti-corrosion on the surface is beneficial for rapid re-endothelialization and the normal physiological function recovery of blood vessels. In the present study, a bioactive hydrogel coating was established on the surface of magnesium alloy by copolymerization of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and acrylamide (AM) via ultraviolet (UV) polymerization, followed by the immobilization of fucoidan (Fu). The results showed that the as-prepared multifunctional hydrogel coating could enhance the corrosion resistance and the surface wettability of the magnesium alloy surface, endowing it with the ability of selective albumin adsorption; meanwhile, it could augment biocompatibility. The following introduction of fucoidan on the surface could further improve the hemocompatibility characterized by reducing protein adsorption, minimizing hemolysis, and preventing platelet aggregation and activation. Additionally, the immobilized fucoidan promoted endothelial cell (EC) growth, as well as up-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells (ECs). Consequently, this research paves a novel approach to developing a versatile bioactive coating for magnesium alloy surfaces and lays a foundation in cardiovascular biomaterials.