Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of natural drug loaded polymeric films for cardiovascular applications

Drug eluting stents (DES) can efficiently reduce the atherosclerosis and restenosis issues of coronary artery as compared to bare metal stents due to the presence of pharmaceutically active agent on their surface. Nevertheless, the arising safety concerns of DES such as delayed healing and late in stent restenosis and thrombus, has stirred the research efforts to improve the outcomes of the DES. In this connection, attention is being shifted from the use of synthetic drug to natural drug for DES. In the present work, natural compound loaded polymeric films were synthesized and their antioxidant and anticoagulation capabilities were assessed through in vitro testing. The potential of the drug loaded polymeric films to curb the production of free radicals was evaluated by carrying out antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The in vitro platelet adhesion was investigated through static platelet adhesion test while effect of synthesized films on intrinsic coagulation pathway was investigated through activated partially thromboplastin time (APTT). Moreover, to further evaluate the blood compatibility of the developed drug loaded films, in vitro hemolytic and anti-thrombolytic assays were carried out. The obtained results indicated that, incorporating herbal compounds such as ginger, magnolol and curcumin, in polymeric matrix (PVA) has significantly improved the blood compatibility of the polymeric films. Hence, it can be concluded that the synthesized drug loaded polymeric films have the potential capability to be used as a potential coating material for coating biomedical implants with good anticoagulation and antioxidant property to cater the cardiovascular issues such as atherosclerosis, restenosis and thrombus formation.