There is disclosed a trans-catheter cardiovascular device, comprising a composite material having gold nanoparticles embedded in a shape memory polymer. In an embodiment, the gold nanoparticles are surface-functionalized gold nanoparticles. In an embodiment, shape memory polymer is a cross-linked shape memory polymer. In various embodiments, the shape memory polymer forms one of a stent, an embolic coil, a venous filter, a vascular graft, and a cardiac septal defect closure device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
