[Using chemical methods to crosslink xenogeneic heart valves: the progress of bioprosthetic heart valves]

Glutaraldehyde clinically is the most commonly accepted crosslinking reagent for bioprosthetic valves preparation. Glutaraldehyde-treated tissue is stable against chemical and enzymatic degradation; however, its calcification and cytotoxicity are severe. Dye-mediated photooxidation is an alternative tissue preservation method that oxidizes the protein with visible light in the presence of a suitable photosensitizer. This article reviews chemical mechanism, research progress, clinical applications future development of these two methods.