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Updated: Oct 10, 2026
Combining 3D-Printing and Electrospinning to Manufacture Biomimetic Heart Valve Leaflets
Published on: March 23, 2022
Tissue-engineered heart valve leaflets: an effective method for seeding autologous cells on scaffolds
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. wongon@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Background:
A precondition for the successful formation of tissue-engineered heart valves is the generation of a proper matrix on biodegradable scaffolds over a limited period of time. The aim of this study was to find an effective method of seeding autologous cells on these scaffolds to create a new matrix for heart valves.
Methods:
Myofibroblasts and endothelial cells were isolated and cultured from an ovine artery. A synthetic biodegradable scaffold consisting of polyglycolic and polylactic acids was seeded first with the myofibroblasts, then coated with endothelial cells. Three different methods of myofibroblast seeding were compared: I) daily seeding of myofibroblasts (1x10(6)) for ten days and culture for four days; II) seeding of myofibroblasts (1x10(7)) and culture for 14 days with the use of a simple medium; III) seeding of myofibroblasts (1x10(7)) with the use of a medium containing collagen and culture for 14 days. Light and electron microscopic analyses were performed.
Results:
The group that used the medium containing collagen showed the best results in terms of seeding efficiency.
Conclusion:
Seeding autologous cells with a medium containing collagen onto the scaffold showed the largest cell population and might generate the best matrix on the scaffold.
