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Full-root Aortic Valve Replacement by Stentless Aortic Xenografts in Patients with Small Aortic Roots
Published on: May 21, 2017
Artificial aortic valves: an overview
Y S Morsi1, I E Birchall, F L Rosenfeldt
1Tissue Engineering Research Group, Industrial Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. ymorsi@swin.edu.au
The International Journal of Artificial Organs
|August 5, 2004
Summary
Tissue engineering offers a promising solution for heart valve replacement, addressing limitations of current mechanical and tissue valves. These novel valves, built on biodegradable scaffolds, aim for improved durability and growth potential.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Engineering
Background:
- Current mechanical and tissue heart valves have limitations including structural failure, thromboembolism, limited durability, calcification, and lack of growth in pediatric patients.
- Tissue engineering presents a potential alternative to overcome these shortcomings by creating viable, functional heart valve tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for addressing limitations of current heart valve replacements.
- To explore the potential of tissue engineering for creating next-generation heart valves.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of morphometrically precise, biodegradable polymer scaffolds using rapid prototyping (e.g., fused deposition modeling) based on natural valve scans.
- Seeding scaffolds with cells to allow for extracellular matrix production and tissue formation.
- Utilizing bioreactors with fluid transduction to align tissue microstructure in predetermined orientations.
Main Results:
- Biodegradable scaffolds provide temporary mechanical support.
- Cellularized scaffolds can develop into viable tissue structures.
- Controlled alignment of tissue microstructure is achievable through bioreactor cultivation.
Conclusions:
- Tissue-engineered heart valves, despite technical challenges, hold significant potential to overcome the limitations of current prosthetic valves.
- This approach may lead to more durable, adaptable, and growth-compatible heart valve substitutes.
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