Dissolving magnesium heart stent inside artery.

Magnesium Scaffolds: A New Hope for Acute Coronary Syndrome?

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Early research suggests these bioresorbable implants offer a safe, promising alternative to traditional stents."

For years, metallic drug-eluting stents (DES) have been a cornerstone in treating coronary artery disease. But what if there was a better option? Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS) represent a cutting-edge advancement, designed to overcome the limitations of traditional metallic stents. Among these, magnesium-based scaffolds are generating considerable excitement.

A recent study, the Magmaris-ACS Registry, marks a significant step forward. It's the first assessment of the Magmaris scaffold, a sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable magnesium scaffold, in patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). While previous research has focused on stable angina patients, this study explores the potential of this second-generation BRS in the more challenging setting of ACS.

This article breaks down the study's findings, exploring what they might mean for the future of cardiac care. We'll dive into the details of how these scaffolds work, what the study revealed about their safety and effectiveness, and what questions remain before they can become a widespread treatment option.

What Makes Magnesium Scaffolds Different?

Dissolving magnesium heart stent inside artery.

Traditional metallic stents provide a permanent support structure to keep arteries open after procedures like angioplasty. However, their permanent nature can sometimes lead to long-term complications. Bioresorbable scaffolds, on the other hand, offer a temporary solution. They provide support while the artery heals, then gradually dissolve over time, leaving the artery in a more natural state.

Magnesium scaffolds offer a unique set of advantages:

Bioresorption: Made from a proprietary absorbable magnesium alloy, these scaffolds completely dissolve, reducing the risk of long-term complications associated with permanent implants.
Reduced Inflammation: In ACS, where inflammation plays a key role, a temporary scaffold might be more beneficial than a permanent foreign body.
Improved Artery Function: By fully dissolving, the scaffold allows the artery to regain its natural ability to expand and contract, potentially improving long-term outcomes.

The Magmaris scaffold, specifically, is coated with a biodegradable polymer that releases sirolimus, a drug that helps prevent the artery from narrowing again. The magnesium alloy itself is designed to resorb within approximately 12 months, leaving behind only a footprint of hydroxyapatite.

The Future of Magnesium Scaffolds

The Magmaris-ACS Registry offers a promising glimpse into the potential of magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds for treating acute coronary syndrome. The study demonstrated that the use of these scaffolds was associated with a high degree of procedural safety and encouraging early clinical outcomes in non-ST elevation ACS patients.

It's important to remember that this is just the beginning. While the initial results are positive, longer-term follow-up is crucial to fully understand the benefits and risks of this technology. Furthermore, larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to compare magnesium scaffolds directly to traditional metallic stents and to determine which patients are most likely to benefit.

For individuals at risk of or experiencing coronary artery issues, these findings suggest a promising avenue for future treatments. As research progresses, magnesium scaffolds could become an increasingly important tool in the fight against heart disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/ccd.28036, Alternate LINK

Title: Early Outcome Of Magnesium Bioresorbable Scaffold Implantation In Acute Coronary Syndrome—The Initial Report From The Magmaris‐Acs Registry

Subject: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Journal: Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Adrian Wlodarczak, Magdalena Lanocha, Artur Jastrzebski, Maciej Pecherzewski, Marek Szudrowicz, Waldemar Jastrzebski, Joanna Nawrot, Maciej Lesiak

Published: 2018-12-10

Everything You Need To Know

How do magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds differ from traditional metallic stents in treating coronary artery disease?

Magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds represent a significant advancement because, unlike permanent metallic drug-eluting stents, they are designed to dissolve over time. This temporary support allows the artery to heal and regain its natural function. The Magmaris scaffold, for example, is made from a proprietary absorbable magnesium alloy and coated with sirolimus, a drug eluting element to help prevent the artery from narrowing again. The magnesium alloy is designed to resorb within approximately 12 months, leaving behind only a footprint of hydroxyapatite.

What is the significance of the Magmaris-ACS Registry in the research of magnesium scaffolds?

The Magmaris-ACS Registry represents the first assessment of the Magmaris scaffold, a sirolimus-eluting bioresorbable magnesium scaffold, specifically in patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Previous research focused on patients with stable angina, but this registry explores the potential of this second-generation BRS in the more challenging setting of ACS. It provided encouraging insights into the safety and effectiveness of magnesium scaffolds.

What are the potential advantages of using magnesium scaffolds for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to traditional stents?

Magnesium scaffolds offer several potential advantages over traditional stents, particularly in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). First, they are made from a proprietary absorbable magnesium alloy that completely dissolves, reducing the risk of long-term complications associated with permanent implants. Second, in ACS, where inflammation is a key factor, a temporary scaffold might be more beneficial than a permanent foreign body. Finally, by fully dissolving, the scaffold allows the artery to regain its natural ability to expand and contract, potentially improving long-term outcomes.

What did the Magmaris-ACS Registry study reveal about the safety and effectiveness of magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds, and what questions remain?

The Magmaris-ACS Registry study primarily focused on assessing the safety and early clinical outcomes of magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds, such as the Magmaris scaffold, in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study demonstrated a high degree of procedural safety and encouraging early clinical outcomes. However, questions remain about their long-term effectiveness compared to metallic stents and the best strategies for their deployment in different patient populations and lesion types.

What further research is needed to fully understand the potential and limitations of magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds like the Magmaris scaffold in treating acute coronary syndrome?

While the Magmaris-ACS Registry provides valuable initial data, further research is necessary to fully understand the long-term implications and optimal use of magnesium bioresorbable scaffolds like the Magmaris scaffold. Future studies should investigate their performance compared to the latest generation of metallic drug-eluting stents (DES) in larger, more diverse patient populations. Additionally, research is needed to refine deployment techniques, identify ideal patient subgroups who would benefit most from this technology, and assess their cost-effectiveness relative to traditional treatments.