A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Investigation into Thrombosis Resistance of Charged Stent Designs

In-stent thrombosis remains a major challenge in cardiovascular interventions, leading to serious complications and reduced device efficacy. In this study, we propose a novel vascular stent design featuring a negatively charged coating to mitigate post-implantation thrombosis. Using Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulations and in vitro validation, we examined the influence of surface charge magnitude, stent geometry, and inter-strut spacing on platelet adhesion and activation. Compared to uncoated stents, charged stents demonstrated substantially lower thrombus formation in both upstream and downstream regions, with higher charge magnitudes showing progressively stronger inhibitory effects. Further analyses revealed that stent strut shape significantly impacts local hemodynamics, as circular and square geometries coated with a charge exhibited reduced platelet aggregation, particularly in regions prone to flow disturbed. Variations in stent spacing also confirmed that negatively charged coatings effectively counteract thrombus formation under multiple deployment configurations. In vitro experiments corroborated these findings, highlighting minimal platelet adhesion on the coated surfaces. Collectively, these results provide a robust framework for designing next-generation stents with enhanced antithrombotic efficacy to improve patient outcomes.