Investigation of a New Superhydrophobic, Oleophobic-Coated Biliary Duct Stent and its Preventive Effect on Biliary Mud in Vitro

Background and AimA new type of superhydrophobic, oleophobic-coated biliary stent was created, and its characteristics and preventive effect on biliary mud deposition in vitro are studied herein.\n\nMethodsThe observational experiment included a bare stent group and coated stent group, with 10 stents per group. The groups were used in a model of the extracorporeal biliary perfusion system with bacterial infection, and the experiment was terminated when the stent was completely blocked. Changes of bile characteristics before and after the experiment, patency time, and amount of bile sludge deposition were compared between the groups. The t-test and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data.\n\nResultsIn the bare stent group, contact angles of bile were about 80.4 degrees and 79.8 degrees before and after the experiment, respectively. There was no change in the effect of bile aversion after the experiment between the groups (P < 0.05). In the coated stent group, contact angles of bile changed from 143.3 degrees before the experiment to 135.7 degrees after the experiment; the effect of the coating decreased significantly after the experiment (P > 0.05). The patency times were 8 weeks and 23 weeks in the bare and coated stent groups, respectively (P > 0.05). Depositions of biliary mud were 47 mg and 13 mg in the bare and coated stent groups, respectively (P > 0.05).\n\nConclusionThe superhydrophobic, oleophobic-coated biliary stent can repel bile better and play a role in preventing bile sludge deposition in the extracorporeal biliary perfusion system.