Fabrication of heart valve with biodegradable materials by tissue engineering

Objective To evaluate the feasibility to fabricate tissue engineered heart valve leaflet with polyhydroxybutyrate/hydroxyvaler-ate(PHBV) and polylactic/glycolic acid(PLCA)scaffold.Method Constructive characteristics of PHBV and PLGA were observed by scanning electron microscope.PHBV and PLGA were implanted subcutaneously in rabbit and removed at 2,4,6,8,10,12 weeks to study its biocompati-bility and biodegradability. Cell growth curve, smooth muscle-α actin and ultra-microscopic characteristics were studied in canine aortic valve interstitial cells.The cells were seeded on the PHBV and PLGA,and their,function of PGI2 synthesis was determinated.Results The pore sizes of PHBV, and PLGA were 130μm and 170 μm,repectivery.The two materials had good biocompatibility and were completely degraded at the end of 10th or 12 th week. Canine aortic valve interstitial cells expressed smooth muscle-a actin and grew well. Cells implanted on PHBV and PLGA were grew well, and they could synthesize and secrete PGI2 ( P 0.05) Conclusion PHBV and PLGA can be used to fabricate a three-dimensional, biodegradable tissue engineering heart valve scaffold.