Fabrication of a novel hybrid scaffold for tissue engineered heart valve

Abstract

The aim of this study was to fabricate biomatrix/polymer hybrid scaffolds using an electrospinning technique. Then tissue engineered heart valves were engineered by seeding mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) onto the scaffolds. The effects of the hybrid scaffolds on the proliferation of seed cells, formation of extracellular matrix and mechanical properties of tissue engineered heart valves were investigated. MSCs were obtained from rats. Porcine aortic heart valves were decellularized, coated with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) using an electrospinning technique, and reseeded and cultured over a time period of 14 days. In control group, the decellularized valve scaffolds were reseeded and cultured over an equivalent time period. Specimens of each group were examined histologically (hematoxylin-eosin [HE] staining, immunohistostaining, and scanning electron microscopy), biochemically (DNA and 4-hydroxyproline) and mechanically. The results showed that recellularization was comparable to the specimens of hybrid scaffolds and controls. The specimens of hybrid scaffolds and controls revealed comparable amounts of cell mass and 4-hydroxyproline (P>0.05). However, the specimens of hybrid scaffolds showed a significant increase in mechanical strength, compared to the controls (P<0.05). This study demonstrated the superiority of the hybrid scaffolds to increase the mechanical strength of tissue engineered heart valves. And compared to the decellularized valve scaffolds, the hybrid scaffolds showed similar effects on the proliferation of MSCs and formation of extracellular matrix. It was believed that the hybrid scaffolds could be used for the construction of tissue engineered heart valves.

Recellularization of decellularized heart valves: Progress toward the tissue-engineered heart valve

“…The biodegradable polymer poly(3hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB) has been applied to decellularized porcine aortic valves through impregnation into the tissue or electrospinning onto the valve surface. 124,125 Hybrid valves created through P3/4HB electrospinning followed by seeding with MSCs under static conditions had a greater maximum load carrying capacity, UTS, and elastic modulus than their decellularized-only counterparts; however, recellularization was similar between groups and limited to the leaflet surface. 124 Impregnated P3/4HB hybrid valves also had increased biomechanics and could support the culture of mouse MFs, human MFs, and human ECs, but only on the valve surface.…”

“…124,125 Hybrid valves created through P3/4HB electrospinning followed by seeding with MSCs under static conditions had a greater maximum load carrying capacity, UTS, and elastic modulus than their decellularized-only counterparts; however, recellularization was similar between groups and limited to the leaflet surface. 124 Impregnated P3/4HB hybrid valves also had increased biomechanics and could support the culture of mouse MFs, human MFs, and human ECs, but only on the valve surface. 125 A more common polymer for creating hybrid valves is PEG because it is highly hydrophilic, water soluble, and has active functional groups that facilitate peptide conjugation.…”

Cells for tissue engineering of cardiac valves

“…These multipotent stem cells can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, smooth muscle cells and cells with a fibroblast phenotype (Gong and Niklason, 2011;Nombela-Arrieta et al, 2011). Several investigations have evaluated the potential of MSCs for heart valve tissue engineering (Hong et al, 2009b;Perry et al, 2003;Somers et al, 2012). In one investigation, MSCs from the sternum of adult sheep were seeded into a 3D polyglycolic acid/poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (PGA/P4HB) composite scaffold (Perry et al, 2003).…”

Tissue‐Engineered Heart Valve: Future of Cardiac Surgery

“…Use of biodegradable polymers in heart valve tissue engineering has shown positive results in vivo (sheep, pulmonary position) studies [10]. New polymeric scaffolds, such as POSS‐PCU, based on innovative nanocomposites might be the future of tissue engineering [9, 27, 28] . Working in nanoscale opens new door to more advanced materials with properties that will suit requirements of heart valve tissue engineering.…”