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Fixation of Bovine Pericardium-Based Tissue Biomaterial with Irreversible Chemistry Improves Biochemical and Biomechanical Properties

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Abstract

Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs), derived from glutaraldehyde crosslinked (GLUT) porcine aortic valve leaflets or bovine pericardium (BP), are used to replace defective heart valves. However, valve failure can occur within 12–15 years due to calcification and/or progressive structural degeneration. We present a novel fabrication method that utilizes carbodiimide, neomycin trisulfate, and pentagalloyl glucose crosslinking chemistry (TRI) to better stabilize the extracellular matrix of BP. We demonstrate that TRI-treated BP is more compliant than GLUT-treated BP. GLUT-treated BP exhibited permanent geometric deformation and complete alteration of apparent mechanical properties when subjected to induced static strain. TRI BP, on the other hand, did not exhibit such permanent geometric deformations or significant alterations of apparent mechanical properties. TRI BP also exhibited better resistance to enzymatic degradation in vitro and calcification in vivo when implanted subcutaneously in juvenile rats for up to 30 days.

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Acknowledgements

Source of Funding: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01HL108330 and P20GM103444) and Hunter Endowment to NRV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    H. Tam, D. Infante, N. Parchment & N. Vyavahare

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

    W. Zhang & M. Sacks

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  1. H. Tam
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  2. W. Zhang
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  3. D. Infante
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  4. N. Parchment
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Correspondence to N. Vyavahare.

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Tam, H., Zhang, W., Infante, D. et al. Fixation of Bovine Pericardium-Based Tissue Biomaterial with Irreversible Chemistry Improves Biochemical and Biomechanical Properties. J. of Cardiovasc. Trans. Res. 10, 194–205 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-017-9733-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-017-9733-5

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