Occlusive coronary artery disease (CAD) is reported to be the single largest cause of death in developed countries. The disease is characterized mostly by the formation of a plaque, resulting in considerable narrowing and hardening of the vessels. Approximately one third of CAD patients are treated by angioplasty and stenting. However, all current stents offer low biocompatibility, which results in occurrence of in-stent restenosis in up to 30% patients, and the need for further medical treatment. This talk will present several methods, developed in our laboratory, that can be applied to modify metal stent surfaces at the nano/molecular level, to render them more biocompatible.

Professor Sasha Omanovic obtained his undergraduate and graduate degree at the University of Zagreb in 1991 and 1995, respectively. From 1998-2000 he was a post-doctoral fellow at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and from 2000-2001 he worked as Associate Technical Director at the Acadia Centre for Microstructural Analysis. In 2001 he joined McGill University, and he is currently full professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Prof. Omanovic's research is in the area of electrochemical engineering. His laboratory focuses on development of functionalized surfaces/materials for various applications, such as supercapacitors, electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion to usable fuels, hydrogen produciton and hydrogenation of (bio)orgnaic molecules, medical implants, corrosion inhibition, etc.