Noninvasive Analysis of Synthetic and Decellularized Scaffolds for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering

Haller, Nicole; Hollweck, Trixi; Thierfelder, Nikolaus; Schulte, Julia; Hausherr, Jan-Marcel; Dauner, Martin and Akra, Bassil (March 2013): Noninvasive Analysis of Synthetic and Decellularized Scaffolds for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering. In: ASAIO Journal, Vol. 59, No. 2: pp. 169-177

Abstract

Microcomputed tomography (mu-CT) is a nondestructive, high-resolution, three-dimensional method of analyzing objects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using mu-CT as a noninvasive method of evaluation for tissue-engineering applications. The polyurethane aortic heart valve scaffold was produced using a spraying technique. Cryopreserved/thawed homograft and biological heart valve were decellularized using a detergent mixture. Human endothelial cells and fibroblasts were derived from saphenous vein segments and were verified by immunocytochemistry. Heart valves were initially seeded with fibroblasts followed by colonization with endothelial cells. Scaffolds were scanned by a mu-CT scanner before and after decellularization as well as after cell seeding. Successful colonization was additionally determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Microcomputed tomography accurately visualized the complex geometry of heart valves. Moreover, an increase in the total volume and wall thickness as well as a decrease in total surface was demonstrated after seeding. A confluent cell distribution on the heart valves after seeding was confirmed by SEM and IHC. We conclude that mu-CT is a new promising noninvasive method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of tissue-engineering processes. ASAIO Journal 2013;59:169-177.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Keywords: tissue engineering; biological heart valve; polyurethane heart valve; homograft; microcomputerized tomography
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1058-2916
• Place of Publication: 530 WALNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-3621 USA
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English