As one of the stimulus-response polymeric intelligent materials, shape memory polymers have been widely applied in biomedicine due to their better biocompatibility, higher controllability, stronger deformation restorability and biodegradability compared with shape memory alloys and shape memory ceramics. This review will introduce the structural principles of shape memory polymers and summarize their applications in the treatment of vascular diseases, especially in endovascular therapy. At the same time, the related technical problems and the future of shape memory polymers are prospected. With the continuous development of processing technology and materials, it can be predicted that shape memory polymers will be more widely used in the medical field.
Implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) is one of the most effective treatment for intraluminal vascular diseases such as vascular stenosis caused by atherosclerosis. Antiproliferative drugs offered by could significantly reduce the restenosis of blood vessels, which is beneficial to interventional therapy in more advanced and complex vascular diseases. This review sumarizes the state-of-the-art of the DES based on the function of loaded drug and material of the stents. We hope this review can provide basic information of DES for clinicians and researchers to make more rational choices in practical applications. Moreover, this review also propses the prospects of drug-loaded stents.