Nanofibrous bioengineered heart valve-Application in paediatric medicine

Heart valves are currently under thorough investigation in tissue engineering (TE) research. Mechanical and biological heart valve prostheses which are recently used have several shortcomings. While allogenic and xenogenic biological prostheses are related to graft rejection, degeneration and thrombosis, resulting in a high rate of reoperation. Mechanical prostheses on the other hand are based on metallic, carbon, and polymeric components, and require continuous treatment with anticoagulant, which result in adverse reactions, e.g. endocarditis and thromboembolic complications. Therefore, there has been efforts to synthesize bioartificial heart valve using bioengineering. The resulting product must be durable with appropriate mechanical properties, biocompatible, and have the ability to grow. Diseased heart valves replacement by surgery is now common, this enhances quality of life and survival for many patients. The center of attraction of recent methods in regenerative medicine are based on the restoration of pathologically altered tissue architectures by cells transplantation in combination with supportive scaffolds, and growth factors. We propose that nanofiber scaffold for paediatric Tissue Engineered Heart Valve (TEHV) will meet most of these requirements, particularly those related to somatic growth, in addition, as the nanofiber scaffold is eroded and new valve is formed, the valve develops in the child until adulthood.