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Three-dimensional printed trileaflet valve conduits using biological hydrogels and human valve interstitial cells
B Duan1, E Kapetanovic2, L A Hockaday1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Acta Biomaterialia
|December 17, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed 3D bioprinted heart valves using hybrid hydrogels. These living valve scaffolds support human valve cell function and matrix remodeling, advancing tissue engineering for regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Tissue engineering offers potential for living valve replacements.
- Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting allows precise cell and hydrogel deposition for complex structures.
- A key limitation is the lack of suitable printable and biocompatible hydrogels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop 3D printable hybrid hydrogels for bioprinting heart valve conduits.
- To investigate the response of human aortic valvular interstitial cells (HAVICs) within these bioprinted environments.
- To create anatomically accurate, living heart valve scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of hybrid hydrogels based on methacrylated hyaluronic acid (Me-HA) and methacrylated gelatin (Me-Gel).
- Utilizing 3D bioprinting to fabricate trileaflet heart valve conduits with encapsulated HAVICs.
- Characterization of hydrogel properties (stiffness, viscosity) and HAVIC behavior (phenotype, viability, matrix deposition).
Main Results:
- Hydrogel properties were tunable by varying Me-Gel and Me-HA concentrations.
- Optimized hydrogels enabled accurate bioprinting of trileaflet valve shapes.
- Encapsulated HAVICs maintained high viability, exhibited proper cell spreading, and remodeled the matrix by depositing collagen and glycosaminoglycans.
Conclusions:
- The developed hybrid hydrogels are suitable for bioprinting functional heart valve conduits.
- Bioprinted hydrogels support and regulate human valvular interstitial cell behavior.
- This approach represents a significant step towards creating de novo living valve replacements using 3D bioprinting.
