Study on electrospun film-covered tracheal stents with adaptive release of anti-inflammatory drugs driven by the piezoelectric effect_Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Authors：

WANG Zhaojie ^1,2 , ZHAO Fengqiang ^1,2 , DAI Binhao ^1,2 , WANG Fengjie ^1,2 , DU Tianming ^1,2 ,  QIAO Aike ^1,2 ,  ZHANG Yanping ^1,2

1. College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, P. R. China;
2. Intelligent Physiological Measurement and Clinical Translation, Beijing International Base for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Beijing 100124, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

QIAO Aike, Email: qak@bjut.edu.cn; ZHANG Yanping, Email: yanping@bjut.edu.cn

Keywords：

Drug-loaded covered metal tracheal stent; Electrospun piezoelectric nanofibers; Conductive nanoparticles; Tracheal granulation tissue hyperplasia

DOI：

10.7507/1001-5515.202511016

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Drug-eluting stents used to inhibit granulation tissue hyperplasia after tracheal stent implantation rely on passive drug release mechanisms, which make precise controlled release difficult and may lead to either insufficient efficacy or toxic side effects. This study aims to design a piezoelectric effect-based adaptive drug-releasing film for tracheal stents, capable of self-regulating the release of anti-inflammatory drugs according to the mechanical changes in the pathological environment within the patient’s airway. First, a polyvinylidene fluoride piezoelectric film was prepared on a metal stent surface via electrospinning. Curcumin-loaded poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive nanoparticles were dispersed in a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and adhered to the upper and lower edges of the stent (prone to hyperplasia areas). Experiments showed uniform nanoparticle morphology with a curcumin loading rate of (12.6 ± 1.80)%. Electrochemical tests indicated that the curcumin release rate was highest (approximately 90%) at a reduction potential of –1.5 V, and “on/off” controlled release could be achieved through intermittent electrical stimulation. When periodic pressure was applied to the film, its output voltage increased with loading speed (up to –8 V). Furthermore, the curcumin release rate was positively correlated with the pressure speed, reaching a cumulative release of about 15% within 48 h at a loading speed of 2.5 m/min. The drug-loaded piezoelectric film-covered stent developed in this study successfully achieves mechanically controlled release of the anti-inflammatory drug curcumin under intermittent cyclic pressure, providing an effective strategy for developing intelligent tracheal stents with adaptive and controllable drug release.

Citation： WANG Zhaojie, ZHAO Fengqiang, DAI Binhao, WANG Fengjie, DU Tianming, QIAO Aike, ZHANG Yanping. Study on electrospun film-covered tracheal stents with adaptive release of anti-inflammatory drugs driven by the piezoelectric effect. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 2026, 43(2): 277-285. doi: 10.7507/1001-5515.202511016 Copy

1.	孫秋鳳, 林麗華, 陳莉莉, 等. 兒童氣管狹窄53例臨床分析. 中國實用兒科雜志, 2025, 40(9): 762-766.
2.	Violette N P, Weisse C, Berent A C, et al. Correlations among tracheal dimensions, tracheal stent dimensions, and major complications after endoluminal stenting of tracheal collapse syndrome in dogs. J Vet Intern Med, 2019, 33(5): 2209-2216.
3.	Graczyk S, Pas?awski R, Grzeczka A, et al. Antimicrobial and antiproliferative coatings for stents in veterinary medicine—state of the art and perspectives. Materials, 2023, 16(21): 1-20.
4.	Li Z, Jiao D, Zhang W, et al. Antibacterial and antihyperplasia polylactic acid/silver nanoparticles nanofiber membrane-coated airway stent for tracheal stenosis. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2021, 206: 111949.
5.	李首卓, 雷玉潔, 趙光強, 等. 氣管支架植入在氣道狹窄中的研究新進展. 中國醫學創新, 2022, 19(27): 171-175.
6.	喬慶, 鮑軍明, 魯凱. 重癥病人氣管支架置入術的氣道管理策略. 世界最新醫學信息文摘, 2019, 19(74): 1-4.
7.	Lee H Y, Lee J W. Current status and future outlook of additive manufacturing technologies for the reconstruction of the trachea. J Funct Biomater, 2023, 14(4): 196-213.
8.	Ha J, Mondal A, Zhao Z, et al. Pediatric airway stent designed to facilitate mucus transport and atraumatic removal. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2020, 67(1): 177-184.
9.	Li Y, Li M, Wang X, et al. Arsenic trioxide-eluting electrospun nanofiber-covered self-expandable metallic stent reduces granulation tissue hyperplasia in rabbit trachea. Biomed Mater, 2020, 16(1): 015013.
10.	Zhao Y, Tian C, Wu K, et al. Vancomycin-loaded polycaprolactone electrospinning nanofibers modulate the airway interfaces to restrain tracheal stenosis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2021, 9: 760395.
11.	張曉紅, 肖永久, 劉彩霞. 支氣管鏡介入治療氣管腫瘤支架術后肉芽組織增生1例. 臨床醫學論壇, 2017, 21(21): 2803-2805.
12.	呂維富, 張行明, 張學彬, 等. 氣管支架置入術治療重癥氣道狹窄的療效與經驗. 介入放射學雜志, 2006, 15(3): 163-166.
13.	Stramiello J A, Mohammadzadeh A, Ryan J, et al. The role of bioresorbable intraluminal airway stents in pediatric tracheobronchial obstruction: a systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2020, 139: 110405.
14.	Ayub A, Al-Ayoubi A M, Bhora F Y. Stents for airway strictures: selection and results. J Thorac Dis, 2017, 9(S2): 116-121.
15.	Li Y, Li M, Wang X, et al. Comparison of three kinds of self-expandable metallic stents induced granulation tissue hyperplasia in the rabbit trachea. Sci Rep, 2021, 11(1): 23115.
16.	全清霞, 陳細秀, 張其霞, 等. 支架置入術治療氣管切開并發肉芽組織增生的護理. 護士進修雜志, 2010, 25(3): 243-244.
17.	Guibert N, Saka H, Dutau H. Airway stenting: technological advancements and its role in interventional pulmonology. Respirology, 2020, 25(9): 953-962.
18.	Chen Y C, Gad S F, Chobisa D, et al. Local drug delivery systems for inflammatory diseases: status quo, challenges, and opportunities. J Control Release, 2021, 330: 438-460.
19.	趙純, 向述天, 蘇偉, 等. 個體化金屬覆膜支架治療氣道瘺的臨床應用. 介入放射學雜志, 2019, 28(12): 1185-1189.
20.	李宗明, 張全會, 韓新巍, 等. 西羅莫司涂層氣管支架在氣管狹窄動物模型中的應用. 放射學實踐, 2021, 36(6): 717-721.
21.	Pan C J, Tang J J, Weng Y J, et al. Preparation and in vitro release profiles of drug-eluting controlled biodegradable polymer coating stents. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2009, 73(2): 199-206.
22.	Xiao R, Zhou G, Wen Y, et al. Recent advances on stimuli-responsive biopolymer-based nanocomposites for drug delivery. Compos Part B Eng, 2023, 266: 111018.
23.	Li Z, Tian C, Jiao D, et al. Synergistic effects of silver nanoparticles and cisplatin in combating inflammation and hyperplasia of airway stents. Bioact Mater, 2022, 9: 266-280.
24.	Boazak E M, Auguste D T. Trachea mechanics for tissue engineering design. ACS Biomater Sci Eng, 2018, 4(4): 1272-1284.
25.	Gaissert H A, Grillo H C, Wright C D, et al. Complication of benign tracheobronchial strictures by self-expanding metal stents. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2003, 126(3): 744-747.
26.	Antón-Pacheco J L. Tracheobronchial stents in children. Semin Pediatr Surg, 2016, 25(3): 179-185.
27.	Johnson C M, Luke A S, Jacobsen C, et al. State of the science in tracheal stents: a scoping review. Laryngoscope, 2021, 132(11): 2111-2123.
28.	Yan J, Liu M, Jeong Y G, et al. Performance enhancements in poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based piezoelectric nanogenerators for efficient energy harvesting. Nano Energy, 2019, 56: 662-692.
29.	Tandon B, Blaker J J, Cartmell S H. Piezoelectric materials as stimulatory biomedical materials and scaffolds for bone repair. Acta Biomater, 2018, 73: 1-20.
30.	Wu Y, Zou J, Tang K, et al. From electricity to vitality: the emerging use of piezoelectric materials in tissue regeneration. Burns Trauma, 2024, 12: 13-38.
31.	Mokhtari F, Azimi B, Salehi M, et al. Recent advances of polymer-based piezoelectric composites for biomedical applications. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater, 2021, 122: 104669.
32.	Qin X, Shi H, Wen Z, et al. Triboelectric-responsive drug delivery hydrogel for accelerating infected wound healing. Adv Healthc Mater, 2024, 13(16): 2303474.
33.	Patel S S, Acharya A, Ray R S, et al. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in prevention and treatment of disease. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2019, 60(6): 887-939.
34.	Menon V P, Sudheer A R. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin// Aggarwal B B. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. Boston: Springer, 2007: 105-125.
35.	Sun Y, Tang Y, He Y, et al. A self-powered wound dressing based on “lock-ON/OFF” drug release combined electric stimulus therapy for accelerated infected wound healing. Adv Funct Mater, 2024, 34(23): 2315086.
36.	Duan H, Yang S, Yang S, et al. The mechanism of curcumin to protect mouse ovaries from oxidative damage by regulating AMPK/mTOR mediated autophagy. Phytomedicine, 2024, 128: 155468.
37.	Enshaei H, Puiggalí-Jou A, Del Valle L J, et al. Nanotheranostic interface based on antibiotic-loaded conducting polymer nanoparticles for real-time monitoring of bacterial growth inhibition. Adv Healthc Mater, 2020, 10(7): 2001636.
38.	Resina L, Hauadi K E, Sans J, et al. Electroresponsive and pH-sensitive hydrogel as carrier for controlled chloramphenicol release. Biomacromolecules, 2023, 24(3): 1432-1444.
39.	Puiggalí-Jou A, Del Valle L J, Alemán C. Drug delivery systems based on intrinsically conducting polymers. J Control Release, 2019, 309: 244-264.
40.	Bansal M, Dravid A, Aqrawe Z, et al. Conducting polymer hydrogels for electrically responsive drug delivery. J Control Release, 2020, 328: 192-209.
41.	Puiggalí-Jou A, Micheletti P, Estrany F, et al. Electrostimulated release of neutral drugs from polythiophene nanoparticles: smart regulation of drug-polymer interactions. Adv Healthc Mater, 2017, 6(18): 1700453.
42.	Xiao C J, Yu X J, Xie J L, et al. Protective effect and related mechanisms of curcumin in rat experimental periodontitis. Head Face Med, 2018, 14(1): 12-20.
43.	Ahn J K, Kim S, Hwang J, et al. Metabolomic elucidation of the effects of curcumin on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One, 2015, 10(12): e0145539.
44.	Srivastava R M, Singh S, Dubey S K, et al. Immunomodulatory and therapeutic activity of curcumin. Int Immunopharmacol, 2011, 11(3): 331-341.
45.	Kim H W, Park S J, Shin D G, et al. Impact of curcumin on pro-inflammatory cytokine reduction in an inflammation-induced urothelium-on-a-chip model. J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem, 2025, 105(3): 197-207.

1. 孫秋鳳, 林麗華, 陳莉莉, 等. 兒童氣管狹窄53例臨床分析. 中國實用兒科雜志, 2025, 40(9): 762-766.
2. Violette N P, Weisse C, Berent A C, et al. Correlations among tracheal dimensions, tracheal stent dimensions, and major complications after endoluminal stenting of tracheal collapse syndrome in dogs. J Vet Intern Med, 2019, 33(5): 2209-2216.
3. Graczyk S, Pas?awski R, Grzeczka A, et al. Antimicrobial and antiproliferative coatings for stents in veterinary medicine—state of the art and perspectives. Materials, 2023, 16(21): 1-20.
4. Li Z, Jiao D, Zhang W, et al. Antibacterial and antihyperplasia polylactic acid/silver nanoparticles nanofiber membrane-coated airway stent for tracheal stenosis. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2021, 206: 111949.
5. 李首卓, 雷玉潔, 趙光強, 等. 氣管支架植入在氣道狹窄中的研究新進展. 中國醫學創新, 2022, 19(27): 171-175.
6. 喬慶, 鮑軍明, 魯凱. 重癥病人氣管支架置入術的氣道管理策略. 世界最新醫學信息文摘, 2019, 19(74): 1-4.
7. Lee H Y, Lee J W. Current status and future outlook of additive manufacturing technologies for the reconstruction of the trachea. J Funct Biomater, 2023, 14(4): 196-213.
8. Ha J, Mondal A, Zhao Z, et al. Pediatric airway stent designed to facilitate mucus transport and atraumatic removal. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 2020, 67(1): 177-184.
9. Li Y, Li M, Wang X, et al. Arsenic trioxide-eluting electrospun nanofiber-covered self-expandable metallic stent reduces granulation tissue hyperplasia in rabbit trachea. Biomed Mater, 2020, 16(1): 015013.
10. Zhao Y, Tian C, Wu K, et al. Vancomycin-loaded polycaprolactone electrospinning nanofibers modulate the airway interfaces to restrain tracheal stenosis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2021, 9: 760395.
11. 張曉紅, 肖永久, 劉彩霞. 支氣管鏡介入治療氣管腫瘤支架術后肉芽組織增生1例. 臨床醫學論壇, 2017, 21(21): 2803-2805.
12. 呂維富, 張行明, 張學彬, 等. 氣管支架置入術治療重癥氣道狹窄的療效與經驗. 介入放射學雜志, 2006, 15(3): 163-166.
13. Stramiello J A, Mohammadzadeh A, Ryan J, et al. The role of bioresorbable intraluminal airway stents in pediatric tracheobronchial obstruction: a systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2020, 139: 110405.
14. Ayub A, Al-Ayoubi A M, Bhora F Y. Stents for airway strictures: selection and results. J Thorac Dis, 2017, 9(S2): 116-121.
15. Li Y, Li M, Wang X, et al. Comparison of three kinds of self-expandable metallic stents induced granulation tissue hyperplasia in the rabbit trachea. Sci Rep, 2021, 11(1): 23115.
16. 全清霞, 陳細秀, 張其霞, 等. 支架置入術治療氣管切開并發肉芽組織增生的護理. 護士進修雜志, 2010, 25(3): 243-244.
17. Guibert N, Saka H, Dutau H. Airway stenting: technological advancements and its role in interventional pulmonology. Respirology, 2020, 25(9): 953-962.
18. Chen Y C, Gad S F, Chobisa D, et al. Local drug delivery systems for inflammatory diseases: status quo, challenges, and opportunities. J Control Release, 2021, 330: 438-460.
19. 趙純, 向述天, 蘇偉, 等. 個體化金屬覆膜支架治療氣道瘺的臨床應用. 介入放射學雜志, 2019, 28(12): 1185-1189.
20. 李宗明, 張全會, 韓新巍, 等. 西羅莫司涂層氣管支架在氣管狹窄動物模型中的應用. 放射學實踐, 2021, 36(6): 717-721.
21. Pan C J, Tang J J, Weng Y J, et al. Preparation and in vitro release profiles of drug-eluting controlled biodegradable polymer coating stents. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2009, 73(2): 199-206.
22. Xiao R, Zhou G, Wen Y, et al. Recent advances on stimuli-responsive biopolymer-based nanocomposites for drug delivery. Compos Part B Eng, 2023, 266: 111018.
23. Li Z, Tian C, Jiao D, et al. Synergistic effects of silver nanoparticles and cisplatin in combating inflammation and hyperplasia of airway stents. Bioact Mater, 2022, 9: 266-280.
24. Boazak E M, Auguste D T. Trachea mechanics for tissue engineering design. ACS Biomater Sci Eng, 2018, 4(4): 1272-1284.
25. Gaissert H A, Grillo H C, Wright C D, et al. Complication of benign tracheobronchial strictures by self-expanding metal stents. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2003, 126(3): 744-747.
26. Antón-Pacheco J L. Tracheobronchial stents in children. Semin Pediatr Surg, 2016, 25(3): 179-185.
27. Johnson C M, Luke A S, Jacobsen C, et al. State of the science in tracheal stents: a scoping review. Laryngoscope, 2021, 132(11): 2111-2123.
28. Yan J, Liu M, Jeong Y G, et al. Performance enhancements in poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based piezoelectric nanogenerators for efficient energy harvesting. Nano Energy, 2019, 56: 662-692.
29. Tandon B, Blaker J J, Cartmell S H. Piezoelectric materials as stimulatory biomedical materials and scaffolds for bone repair. Acta Biomater, 2018, 73: 1-20.
30. Wu Y, Zou J, Tang K, et al. From electricity to vitality: the emerging use of piezoelectric materials in tissue regeneration. Burns Trauma, 2024, 12: 13-38.
31. Mokhtari F, Azimi B, Salehi M, et al. Recent advances of polymer-based piezoelectric composites for biomedical applications. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater, 2021, 122: 104669.
32. Qin X, Shi H, Wen Z, et al. Triboelectric-responsive drug delivery hydrogel for accelerating infected wound healing. Adv Healthc Mater, 2024, 13(16): 2303474.
33. Patel S S, Acharya A, Ray R S, et al. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in prevention and treatment of disease. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2019, 60(6): 887-939.
34. Menon V P, Sudheer A R. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin// Aggarwal B B. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. Boston: Springer, 2007: 105-125.
35. Sun Y, Tang Y, He Y, et al. A self-powered wound dressing based on “lock-ON/OFF” drug release combined electric stimulus therapy for accelerated infected wound healing. Adv Funct Mater, 2024, 34(23): 2315086.
36. Duan H, Yang S, Yang S, et al. The mechanism of curcumin to protect mouse ovaries from oxidative damage by regulating AMPK/mTOR mediated autophagy. Phytomedicine, 2024, 128: 155468.
37. Enshaei H, Puiggalí-Jou A, Del Valle L J, et al. Nanotheranostic interface based on antibiotic-loaded conducting polymer nanoparticles for real-time monitoring of bacterial growth inhibition. Adv Healthc Mater, 2020, 10(7): 2001636.
38. Resina L, Hauadi K E, Sans J, et al. Electroresponsive and pH-sensitive hydrogel as carrier for controlled chloramphenicol release. Biomacromolecules, 2023, 24(3): 1432-1444.
39. Puiggalí-Jou A, Del Valle L J, Alemán C. Drug delivery systems based on intrinsically conducting polymers. J Control Release, 2019, 309: 244-264.
40. Bansal M, Dravid A, Aqrawe Z, et al. Conducting polymer hydrogels for electrically responsive drug delivery. J Control Release, 2020, 328: 192-209.
41. Puiggalí-Jou A, Micheletti P, Estrany F, et al. Electrostimulated release of neutral drugs from polythiophene nanoparticles: smart regulation of drug-polymer interactions. Adv Healthc Mater, 2017, 6(18): 1700453.
42. Xiao C J, Yu X J, Xie J L, et al. Protective effect and related mechanisms of curcumin in rat experimental periodontitis. Head Face Med, 2018, 14(1): 12-20.
43. Ahn J K, Kim S, Hwang J, et al. Metabolomic elucidation of the effects of curcumin on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One, 2015, 10(12): e0145539.
44. Srivastava R M, Singh S, Dubey S K, et al. Immunomodulatory and therapeutic activity of curcumin. Int Immunopharmacol, 2011, 11(3): 331-341.
45. Kim H W, Park S J, Shin D G, et al. Impact of curcumin on pro-inflammatory cytokine reduction in an inflammation-induced urothelium-on-a-chip model. J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem, 2025, 105(3): 197-207.

Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Study on electrospun film-covered tracheal stents with adaptive release of anti-inflammatory drugs driven by the piezoelectric effect

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