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Evaluation of Pericardial Tissues from Assorted Species as a Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve Material

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Abstract

Decellularized pericardial tissue is a strong candidate for a TEHV material as ECM is present to guide cellular infiltration and fixed porcine and bovine pericardial tissue have existing use in bioprosthetic heart valves. In this work, we compare the mechanical and microstructural properties of decellularized-sterilized (DS) porcine, bovine, and bison pericardial tissues with respect to use as a TEHV. H&E staining was used to verify removal of cellular content post-decellularization and to evaluate collagen fiber structure. Additionally, uniaxial and biaxial tension testing were used to compare mechanical performance and, for the latter, acquire constitutive model parameters for subsequent finite element (FE) modeling. H&E staining revealed complete removal of cellular content and good collagen fiber structure. Tensile testing showed comparable mechanical strength between the three DS pericardial tissues and considerably stronger mechanical properties compared to native tissues. Bovine and bison DS pericardial tissues showed the strongest mechanical performance in the FE models with bison demonstrating the overall best mechanical characteristics. The increased thickness of bovine and bison tissues coupled with the strong mechanical behavior and ECM structure indicates that these materials will be resistant to damage until sufficient cellular infiltration has occurred such that damaged tissue can be repaired.

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taken from sites in the FE models at the top of the commissures and leaflet belly at set points in the cardiac cycle. Data is shown for DS porcine, bovine and bison pericardium, and native porcine aortic valve

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Program in Biological Valve Engineering. Dr Christopher Noble is supported through the Mayo Clinic Career Development Award in Cardiovascular Diseases Research Honoring Dr. Earl H. Wood.

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  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Christopher Noble, David Morse, Amir Lerman & Melissa Young

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Correspondence to Melissa Young.

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Noble, C., Morse, D., Lerman, A. et al. Evaluation of Pericardial Tissues from Assorted Species as a Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve Material. Med Biol Eng Comput 60, 393–406 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-021-02498-5

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