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Mechanical and Structural Properties of a Novel Hybrid Heart Valve Scaffold for Tissue Engineering
Author(s) -
Grabow Niels,
Schmohl Kathleen,
Khosravi Amir,
Philipp Mark,
Scharfschwerdt Michael,
Graf Bernhard,
Stamm Christof,
Haubold Axel,
Schmitz KlausPeter,
Steinhoff Gustav
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.2004.00007.x
Subject(s) - decellularization , scaffold , biomedical engineering , heart valve , tissue engineering , glutaraldehyde , materials science , polymer , fibrous joint , composite material , chemistry , anatomy , surgery , medicine , chromatography
Hybrid heart valve scaffolds were fabricated from decellularized porcine aortic heart valve matrices and enhanced with bioresorbable polymers using different protocols: (i) dip coating of lyophilized decellularized matrices, and (ii) impregnation of wet decellularized matrices. The following polymers were evaluated: poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co4‐hydroxybutyrate). Tensile tests were conducted to assess the biomechanical behavior of valve leaflet strips. Suture retention strength was evaluated for the adjacent conduit. A pulse duplicator system was used for functional testing of the valves under physiological systemic load conditions. The properties of the hybrid structures were compared with native, decellularized, and glutaraldehyde‐fixed specimens. Mechanisms of the polymer impregnation process were studied with IR spectroscopy, fluorescent microscopic imaging, and SEM. Altogether this study demonstrates the feasibility and improved biomechanical function of a novel hybrid heart valve scaffold for an application in tissue engineering.