A medical device for implantation into vessels or luminal structures
within the body is provided, which stimulates positive blood vessel
remodeling. The medical device, such as a stent and a synthetic graft, is
coated with a pharmaceutical composition consisting of a
controlled-release matrix and one or more pharmaceutical substances for
direct delivery of drugs to surrounding tissues. The coating on the
medical device further comprises a ligand such as a peptide, an antibody
or a small molecule for capturing progenitor endothelial cells in the
blood contacting surface of the device for restoring an endothelium at
the site of injury. In particular, the drug-coated stents are for use,
for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures for preventing or
inhibiting restenosis.