Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) rolled out its latest cardiac care innovation, the Chitra Core coronary stent, during a low-key event in the capital on August 15,2026. The launch coincided with the annual meet of Interventional Cardiology Council of Kerala.
Chitra Core is part of a bigger push that includes another stent,the Chitra TiN, featuring Titanium Nitride coating. Built on a Cobalt-Chromium alloy platform, these stents aim to tackle common issues with traditional ones. Chitra Core stands out with 30-40% less metal content, reducing vessel damage and risks like restenosis and thrombosis .
N.N . Subhash, a scientist-engineer at SCTIMST,explained the Chitra Core is a polymer-coated Everolimus drug-eluting stent. He stressed its design and materials as key differentiators . The stent was developed with SCTIMST's Division of Artificial Internal Organs and transferred to Invasive Technologies Pvt Ltd . under a 2024 agreement .
By December 2025, Invasive Technologies secured the necessary license from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to manufacture Chitra Core,having cleared all regulatory hurdles. A nod to indigenous innovation's potential in medicine.
Focus now shifts to the Chitra TiN stent, a first-of-its-kind polymer-free device with no direct global competitor at its price . Backed by the Technical Research Centre for Biomedical Devices, Chitra TiN is prepping for pre-clinical evaluations before a global debut.
Drug-eluting stents were designed to combat restenosis,where arteries narrow again due to cell overgrowth. Yet,these stents haven't fully solved late-stage thrombosis issues. Traditional metal stents can release nickel ions, causing inflammation and potentially triggering restenosis.
Chitra TiN's design with a TiN coating aims to cut these risks by preventing metal contact with blood and tissue. Mr. Subhash noted TiN's robustness and suitability for implants due to its biocompatibility and mechanical strength. SCTIMST has been on TiN's trail since late '80s,with the TTK Chitra-Titanium heart valve also TiN-coated,awaiting market entry.
No global coronary stents use TiN coating yet,making Chitra TiN a potential game-changer. As its global launch nears,the prototype faces rigorous pre-clinical testing to meet international norms. S. Harikrishnan, a cardiology professor at SCTIMST,is hopeful about animal trial results but notes regulatory hurdles remain.
Chitra TiN has already earned accolades,ranking among top three health innovations in 2024 at the Aegis Graham Bell Awards, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It was also lauded as one of the top twelve innovations by the BUILD program at IIT Madras Incubation Cell in 2023.
