Hybrid Tissue-Engineered Valves May Expand Options for Heart Valve Surgery Patients
Novel technology creates patient-specific valve that won’t degrade over
Researchers have created a new heart valve that combines a patient’s own cells with metal alloy for a more durable replacement with potentially fewer complications, according to an article in the June 2015 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
- A hybrid tissue-engineered heart valve that uses a patient’s own cells can provide a “living” replacement for patients with heart valve disease.
- The process, which takes about 3 to 8 weeks, uses an ultra-flexible scaffold made of a nickel and titanium alloy that is combined layer by layer with the patient’s own cells.
- Researchers have completed initial lab testing and plan to initiate the next phase of trials.
S. Hamed Alavi, PhD, and Arash Kheradvar, MD, PhD, from the University of California in Irvine, developed the potentially revolutionary hybrid tissue-engineered heart valve.
Current valve replacement options are limited to those made solely from manufactured products (mechanical valves) or animal tissue (bioprosthetic valves). Mechanical heart valves tend to last longer than bioprosthetic valves, but they carry a greater long-term risk for blood clots that may lead to stroke and arterial thrombosis (clotting in the arteries), as well as bleeding from anticoagulant medications designed to prevent thrombosis.
“Bioprosthetic valve replacements, on the other hand, are prone to limited durability, which means patients may need a reoperation usually 10 to 15 years after implantation,” said Dr. Alavi.
Traditionally, tissue-engineered valves are built on a scaffold that will degrade once the tissue is more mature. Once the scaffold has degraded, however, the valve leaflets often shrink, which can cause leaks and result in valve failure.
“For our research, we decided to use a non-degradable scaffold that stays within the valve to provide the support it needs without interfering with its normal function,” said Dr. Kheradvar. “The valve we created uses an ultra-flexible scaffold made of an alloy of nickel and titanium (Nitinol) that is enclosed within the patient’s own cultured tissue. The entire process takes about 3 to 8 weeks.”
The researchers said that they expect the hybrid valve to self-regenerate inside the body, eventually incorporating itself into the patient’s heart structure. By using the patient’s own cells, the valve will become a “living” replacement for the diseased valve.
“We believe this new hybrid technology will significantly improve a patient’s quality of life by eliminating the need for lifelong medications and without compromising the durability of the valve,” said Dr. Alavi. “This is particularly beneficial for younger patients who are in need of a heart valve replacement.”
The researchers have completed initial lab testing and now plan to initiate the next phase of trials. If all goes well, they anticipate the hybrid heart valve will be available for use in patients in 5 to 10 years.
Notes for editors
A Hybrid Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve
doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.02.058 The Annals of Thoracic Surgery published by Elsevier. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003497515002714
Full text of the article is available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Cassie McNulty email@example.com at +1 312 202 5865
About The Annals of Thoracic SurgeryThe Annals of Thoracic Surgery is the official journal of STS and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 6,800 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy. www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org
Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com
Media Relations Manager STS
+1 312 202 5865