OP5 Parallel development and characterisation of an anti-oxidant stent coating and an in vitro biological model for qualitative assessment

Restenosis is a major cause of coronary artery stent failure and is linked to vascular endothelium damage with resultant oxidative and inflammatory stress. Drug eluting stents (DES) have failed to eliminate this risk; particularly for diabetic patients. Here, we have assessed the potential therapeutic effects of a novel antioxidant stent coating using (i) a common chemical assay, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and (ii) superoxide scavenging ability using NBT (nitroblue tetrazolium) reduction and have identified high antioxidant potential that is not dependent on drug incorporation within the coating.To assess the biological effect of this novel antioxidant coating, we have initially used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines to mimic the inflammation stress encountered post-stent placement. Pro-inflammatory signalling was assessed by measuring phospho-P65 (pP65) expression using quantitative western blotting and oxidative stress assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using DCFDA. In addition, we have specifically examined expression and activation (via oxidation) of an enzyme called Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-delta (CaMKIIδ) that is known to be a central component of vascular pathology during acute and chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.HUVECs were stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines, Tissue Necrotic Factor alpha (TNFα) and Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β). Stimulation with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for 1h resulted in the highest overall level of P65 phosphorylation (7.80 ± 1.41 (fold increase ± S.E.M. in pP65 expression in IL-1β -stimulated cells c.f. unstimulated controls, n=4, p