Surreal illustration of a dissolving heart stent inside a healthy artery.

Heart Health Revolution: Are Bioresorbable Stents the Future of Angioplasty?

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 5 min read.

"Uncover the latest advancements in bioresorbable stent technology and how they're transforming the treatment of coronary artery disease, offering new hope for long-term heart health."

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Angioplasty, a procedure to widen narrowed or blocked arteries, has become a standard treatment, often involving the placement of stents to keep the arteries open. Traditional metal stents, while effective, can sometimes lead to long-term complications such as late stent thrombosis and neoatherosclerosis, prompting the development of bioresorbable stents as an innovative alternative.

Bioresorbable stents, also known as bioabsorbable scaffolds, represent a paradigm shift in interventional cardiology. These devices are designed to provide temporary support to the artery, gradually dissolving over time as the artery heals. The idea is that once the artery has regained its natural ability to stay open, the scaffold is no longer needed and disappears, leaving no permanent implant behind.

Recent studies and clinical trials have focused on evaluating the safety and efficacy of various bioresorbable scaffolds, including those made from magnesium alloys and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Researchers are keenly interested in whether these new scaffolds can reduce the risk of long-term complications compared to traditional drug-eluting stents (DES).

The Promise of Bioresorbable Stents: Key Research Findings

Surreal illustration of a dissolving heart stent inside a healthy artery.

Several abstracts presented at recent cardiology conferences shed light on the performance of bioresorbable stents in real-world settings and complex lesions. One notable study is a registry designed to evaluate the clinical performance and long-term safety of the Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold (Magmaris) in up to 1065 subjects across multiple sites in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Preliminary data from the first 400 subjects showed a low rate of target lesion failure (TLF) at 6 months, indicating a promising safety profile.

Another study focused on the Magmaris scaffold examined consecutive adverse angiographic and clinical events in pooled Italian series. This descriptive analysis aimed to provide detailed insights into individual events such as scaffold thrombosis, intraluminal scaffold dismantling (ILSD), scaffold recoil, restenosis (ISR), and lesion progression. The researchers used multi-modality imaging with IVUS and OCT to investigate angiographic findings, providing a comprehensive understanding of the scaffold's behavior in vivo.

Key findings from these studies include:

Low rates of target lesion failure (TLF) at 6-month follow-up.
A low rate of definite/probable scaffold thrombosis.
Insights into specific adverse events such as scaffold recoil and intraluminal scaffold dismantling.
Comparable MACE (major adverse cardiac events) rates with new-generation DES.

Furthermore, research on the Sirolimus-Eluting Bioabsorbable Magnesium Scaffold (DREAMS 2G) in the BIOSOLVE-II study provided 3-year clinical data and multi-modality imaging outcomes. This study aimed to assess the long-term safety, clinical performance, and bioabsorption process of the scaffold. Results showed encouraging safety results with TLF rates comparable to 2nd generation drug-eluting stents and no definite or probable scaffold thrombosis up to 36 months.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Bioresorbable Stents

Bioresorbable stents represent a significant advancement in the treatment of coronary artery disease. While long-term data is still being collected, the initial results are promising, suggesting that these devices could potentially reduce the risk of late complications associated with traditional metal stents. As technology evolves and more clinical evidence becomes available, bioresorbable stents may become an increasingly important tool in the fight against heart disease, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients around the world.

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Everything You Need To Know

What exactly are bioresorbable stents, and how do they differ from traditional metal stents used in angioplasty?

Bioresorbable stents, also known as bioabsorbable scaffolds, are innovative devices used in angioplasty. Unlike traditional metal stents, bioresorbable stents are designed to provide temporary support to the artery and then dissolve over time as the artery heals. This eliminates the long-term presence of a foreign object in the body, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as late stent thrombosis and neoatherosclerosis. The materials commonly used include magnesium alloys and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA).

What are the key research findings related to bioresorbable stents, and what do they suggest about the safety and efficacy of these devices?

Key research findings indicate several promising outcomes. Studies have shown low rates of target lesion failure (TLF) at 6-month follow-up and a low incidence of definite or probable scaffold thrombosis. Researchers have also gained insights into specific adverse events like scaffold recoil and intraluminal scaffold dismantling (ILSD) through multi-modality imaging, such as IVUS and OCT. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates appear comparable to those of new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).

Can you describe the Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold (Magmaris) and any studies focusing on its performance in treating coronary artery disease?

The Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold (Magmaris) is being evaluated in a registry across multiple sites in Europe and Asia-Pacific, involving up to 1065 subjects. Preliminary data from the first 400 subjects showed a low rate of target lesion failure (TLF) at 6 months, suggesting a promising safety profile. Another study on the Magmaris scaffold provided detailed insights into individual adverse events such as scaffold thrombosis, intraluminal scaffold dismantling (ILSD), scaffold recoil, restenosis (ISR), and lesion progression using multi-modality imaging with IVUS and OCT to investigate angiographic findings.

What can you tell me about the Sirolimus-Eluting Bioabsorbable Magnesium Scaffold (DREAMS 2G) and the BIOSOLVE-II study?

The Sirolimus-Eluting Bioabsorbable Magnesium Scaffold (DREAMS 2G) was assessed in the BIOSOLVE-II study, providing 3-year clinical data and multi-modality imaging outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate the long-term safety, clinical performance, and bioabsorption process of the scaffold. Results showed encouraging safety results with TLF rates comparable to 2nd generation drug-eluting stents and no definite or probable scaffold thrombosis up to 36 months. The assessment of the bioabsorption process using imaging techniques like OCT is crucial to understanding the scaffold's degradation and its impact on vessel healing.

What are the future prospects for bioresorbable stents, and what further research is needed to establish their role in treating coronary artery disease?

While initial results are promising, long-term data is still being collected to fully understand the benefits and risks of bioresorbable stents compared to traditional metal stents, particularly drug-eluting stents (DES). Future research will focus on assessing the long-term safety, clinical performance, and bioabsorption process of these scaffolds. Additionally, ongoing studies will likely explore the use of bioresorbable stents in more complex lesions and patient populations. The evolution of bioresorbable stent technology and the accumulation of more clinical evidence will determine the extent to which these devices become a standard treatment in cardiology.