In the present study, pure zinc stents were implanted into the abdominal aorta of rabbits for 12 months. Multiscale analysis including micro-CT, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and histological stainings was performed to reveal the fundamental degradation mechanism of the pure zinc stent and its biocompatibility. The pure zinc stent was able to maintain mechanical integrity for 6 months and degraded 41.75 ± 29.72% of stent volume after 12 months implantation. No severe inflammation, platelet aggregation, thrombosis formation or obvious intimal hyperplasia was observed at all time points after implantation. The degradation of the zinc stent played a beneficial role in the artery remodeling and healing process. The evolution of the degradation mechanism of pure zinc stents with time was revealed as follows: Before endothelialization, dynamic blood flow dominated the degradation of pure zinc stent, creating a uniform corrosion mode; After endothelialization, the degradation of pure zinc stent depended on the diffusion of water molecules, hydrophilic solutes and ions which led to localized corrosion. Zinc phosphate generated in blood flow transformed into zinc oxide and small amounts of calcium phosphate during the conversion of degradation microenvironment. The favorable physiological degradation behavior makes zinc a promising candidate for future stent applications.

在本研究中，将纯锌支架植入兔子的腹主动脉中持续12个月。进行了多尺度分析，包括显微CT，扫描电子显微镜（SEM），扫描透射电子显微镜（STEM）和组织学染色，以揭示纯锌支架的基本降解机理及其生物相容性。纯锌支架能够在6个月内保持机械完整性，并且在植入12个月后可降低其支架体积的41.75±29.72％。在植入后的所有时间点均未观察到严重的炎症，血小板聚集，血栓形成或明显的内膜增生。锌支架的降解在动脉重塑和愈合过程中发挥了有益的作用。揭示了纯锌支架降解机理随时间的变化：内皮化前，动态血流主导了纯锌支架的降解，形成了均匀的腐蚀模式。内皮化后，纯锌支架的降解取决于水分子，亲水性溶质和离子的扩散，从而导致局部腐蚀。在降解微环境转化过程中，血流中产生的磷酸锌转化为氧化锌和少量磷酸钙。良好的生理降解性能使锌成为未来支架应用的有前途的候选者。纯锌支架的降解取决于水分子，亲水性溶质和离子的扩散，从而导致局部腐蚀。在降解微环境转化过程中，血流中产生的磷酸锌转化为氧化锌和少量磷酸钙。良好的生理降解性能使锌成为未来支架应用的有前途的候选者。纯锌支架的降解取决于水分子，亲水性溶质和离子的扩散，从而导致局部腐蚀。在降解微环境转化过程中，血流中产生的磷酸锌转化为氧化锌和少量磷酸钙。良好的生理降解行为使锌成为未来支架应用的有前途的候选者。