Page 2 - PROBIO

PROBIO ® is a an amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) passive coating developed by
BIOTRONIK to reduce the thrombogenic properties of metal stents. Passive coatings serve
as a barrier between the metal stent and the surrounding tissue/blood. Instead of actively
interfering with the process of intimal proliferation, PROBIO ® adapts the surface of the
stent to reduce the amount of protein activation that can occur – essentially, making the
stent biologically invisible.
By improving the haemo- and biocompatibility, passively coated stents can reduce the
risk of early and late complications.1 In vitro results have shown PROBIO® to reduce
the deposition of fibrin, platelets and leucocytes as well as enhance the growth of
endothelial cells.
A stent can trigger thrombus formation
by an electronic exchange between the
stent's surface and blood. Dampening
this electron transfer process between
the stent surface and serum proteins
results in reduced thrombogenicity.2
The surfaces of all BIOTRONIK
coronary and peripheral stents are
coated with PROBIO® to minimize
unwanted interactions with the
surrounding blood and tissue. The
electronic structure of PROBIO ® is
adapted to the electronic structure of
proteins, and therefore is a passive,
«non-activating» biomaterial.
Electron Transfer Processes
Uncoated Stent Coated Stent
What is PROBIO®?
How does it work?
Metal Metal
PROBIO® (Silicon Carbide)