The use of biopolymer-based electrospun nanofibers for heart valve construction

MaterialSolutionFiber diameter (nm)Voltage (kV)Flow rateNeedle-mandrel distances (cm)CellOutcomes
Porcine decellularized valve: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB)Dichloromethane-20-20Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)

Hong et al., 2009 [63]

  • The hybrid scaffolds had identical impacts on MSC proliferation and extracellular matrix formation.

  • Increased tensile strength under load was caused by the anisotropy of the P3/4HB fibers, which carried a portion of the stress.

  • The hybrid scaffolds were found to be superior in terms of increasing the mechanical strength of TEHVs.

Gelatin–chitosan polyurethane (PU)N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/tetrahydrofuran (THF)720 ± 130 to 970 ± 16020--Endothelial cells

Wong et al., 2010 [59]

  • The results showed that the gelatin–chitosan PU group achieved a mean cell retention rate of 80% during the duration of exposure and the shear-stress range examined.

  • The electrospun gelatin–chitosan PU showed promising cell retention and biocompatibility characteristics, and it may be employed as a biomaterial for heart valve tissue engineering.

Methacrylated hyaluronic acid and methacrylated gelatin
Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)–poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)
Chloroform and ethanol (9:1)-12.52 mL/h18Mitral valve interstitial cells (MVICs)

Eslami et al., 2014 [64]

  • PGS stimulates ECM secretion in PGS–PCL scaffolds.

  • The 3D distribution of mitral VICs was enhanced by the hydrogel’s presence.

  • This hybrid approach may offer a more appropriate 3D framework for producing scaffolds for heart valve tissue development than electrospun or hydrogel scaffolds alone.

Decellularized bovine pericardium: polycaprolactone-chitosanTrifluoroacetic acid (TFA)128.78 ± 17.9150.5 mL/h15Heart valve interstitial cells (hVICs)

Jahnavi et al., 2017 [65]

  • In comparison to native valves, bio-hybrid scaffolds are at least 20 times stronger and nearly three times more rigid.

  • Bio-hybrid scaffolds cultivated from VICs showed a distinct reaction along the axial and circumferential direction, similar to native valves, according to biaxial and uniaxial mechanical experiments.

Cellulose acetateAcetone and dimethylacetamide (DMAc) (2:1)9002510–15 μL/min20Mouse fibroblasts L929

Chainoglou et al., 2016 [46]

  • In an effort to create an artificial valve that mimics the characteristics of a native valve, successfully developed and characterized the physicochemical and morphological properties of cellulose-acetate-based nano-scaffolds and then applied them as coverings onto the surface of the aortic heart valve.

  • Cell growth was seen in all samples; however, the 20%_1S_24G sample exhibited the most cell proliferation and, thus, the highest level of biocompatibility.

Silk fibroin (SF) and poly(ester-urethane) urea (LDI-PEUU)1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)465 ± 165101 mL/h15Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)

Du et al., 2018 [66]

  • All findings demonstrated that SF/LDI-PEUU (40:60) nanofibrous scaffolds satisfy the necessary requirements.

  • The application in tissue engineering is supported by the fact that SF/LDI-PEUU nanofibers enhanced cell viability, as evidenced by cell proliferation and morphology.

TEHVs: tissue-engineered heart valves