Medical-grade polymers are often considered too stiff for demanding applications, particularly when devices need to be compressed into a catheter and then expanded once in situ. However, material behaviour changes significantly when those same polymers are processed into nanofibres. Electrospun coatings form highly flexible, amorphous structures that can accommodate deformation far beyond what might be expected from the bulk material.

This flexibility becomes critical when coatings are applied to devices such as nitinol frames, where they must conform fully and maintain integrity under compression, expansion, and repeated mechanical stress. Electrospun TPU coatings, for example, can adhere reliably while moving with the underlying structure, ensuring consistent performance throughout deployment and use.

Beyond mechanical performance, coating design must also consider factors such as permeability, tissue interaction, and long-term functionality. Electrospinning enables precise control over these properties, allowing coatings to be tailored for specific clinical requirements, whether that involves promoting tissue integration or enabling future retrieval.