Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the stent surface form a base layer to which other proteins such as serum albumin attach.
Such a mechanism of deposition would be favorable for the purpose of rational stent design,
as the proteins forming the base layer would make excellent targets for adhesion prevention.
If temporal aspects can be determined in addition to the various layers of proteins, potential
targets could be identified to prevent the initiating events of encrustation and infection.
12. Conclusions
We propose that the principles used by our colleagues in pharmaceutical research in the
pursuit of rational drug design can be transferred to the design of novel ureteral stent
biomaterials: 1) To understand the potential targets in ureteral stent encrustation and
infection and 2) Develop biomaterials to limit these processes. Current research to date has
focused on the prevention of bacterial adherence and encrustation; however, we propose
that research interests should shift to the initial primary steps in conditioning film
formation, thus perhaps preventing the whole cascade of events from occurring. Once these
processes have been more clearly defined, the pursuit of highly specific engineered
biomaterials can be started. Identification of specific targets would help direct the
development of new materials and hopefully succeed where previous work has failed.
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