Tissue-engineered devices in cardiovascular surgery

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular research
• Biomaterials science
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• The development of lifelong functional cardiovascular (CV) implants is a major goal in cardiothoracic research.
• Current artificial CV implants have limitations, including intimal hyperplasia, antigenicity, and thrombogenicity.
• Tissue engineering (TE) offers a promising approach to create vital, growing, and adaptive CV prostheses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the state-of-the-art in TE techniques for cardiovascular products.
• To describe milestones in the development of tissue-engineered myocardial, valvular, and vascular devices.
• To discuss experimental and clinical perspectives on TE for CV applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on tissue engineering for cardiovascular devices.
• Analysis of experimental and clinical data on myocardial, valvular, and vascular TE.
• Evaluation of advancements in scaffold design, cellularization, and surface modification.

Main Results:

• Initial clinical trials for TE cardiovascular devices have commenced.
• Decellularized allogeneic bioprostheses are promising scaffolds for autologous cellularization.
• In vitro endothelialization is emerging as a key factor for long-term success of biological TE grafts.

Conclusions:

• Tissue engineering holds significant potential for creating superior cardiovascular implants.
• Decellularized matrices and in vitro endothelialization represent key advancements.
• Continued research and clinical translation are crucial for realizing the full potential of TE in CV medicine.