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Towards tissue engineering of a composite aortic valve
Yaling Shi1, Anand Ramamurthi, Ivan Vesely
1Department of Biomedical Engineering/ND20 Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44121, USA.
Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation
|June 28, 2002
Summary
Tissue engineering aims to replicate native aortic valve microstructure for durable bioprosthetic valves. Researchers developed key components like collagen fiber bundles and elastin sheets, paving the way for composite tissue-engineered aortic valve cusps.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Native aortic valve cusps possess a complex microstructure crucial for durability.
- This microstructure includes collagen fiber bundles, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
- Existing bioprosthetic valves lack this intricate native structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a tissue-engineered aortic valve cusp mimicking native microstructure.
- To fabricate individual structural components of the aortic valve cusp.
- To assemble these components into a composite tissue-engineered cusp.
Main Methods:
- Directed collagen gel shrinkage was used to create aligned collagen fiber bundles.
- High molecular weight hyaluronan crosslinked with divinyl sulfone formed the GAG matrix.
- Neonatal aortic fibroblasts cultured on specific substrates generated elastin sheets and tubes.
Main Results:
- Aligned, strong collagen fiber bundles (>1 MPa) were successfully fabricated.
- Elastin sheaths formed naturally around collagen bundles and GAG matrix.
- Individual, native-like microstructural components were created.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully fabricated key building blocks of the aortic valve cusp.
- This approach mimics the native aortic valve microstructure.
- These components can be assembled into a composite, tissue-engineered aortic valve cusp.