Characterization of Pediatric Porcine Pulmonary Valves as a Model for Tissue Engineered Heart Valves

Nejad SP, Mirani B, et al.

Acta Biomaterialia

University of Toronto, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study provides a comprehensive mechanical and structural characterization of **pediatric porcine pulmonary valves (PVs)** as an analog for human pediatric valves in heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE). The researchers assessed the planar biaxial tensile behavior, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and organization, and valvular interstitial cell phenotypes of PVs from 7–8.5-week-old piglets. Results revealed anisotropic and non-linear tension–strain profiles with greater radial extensibility, a tri-layer ECM organization (fibrosa, spongiosa, ventricularis), and primarily quiescent fibroblastic valvular interstitial cells. The data were used to derive a seven-parameter Fung constitutive model that predicts biaxial tissue mechanics under varied loading conditions, establishing benchmark values for biomimetic pediatric valve design.

Planar biaxial mechanical testing was conducted using a CellScale BioTester 5000 with 0.5 N load cells and a tine attachment system (BioRakes, 0.7 mm spacing). Square 4.5 × 4.5 mm² leaflet samples were mounted and preconditioned through 10 displacement-controlled cycles in PBS at 37°C, followed by nine test protocols at decreasing circumferential-to-radial ratios. The BioTester collected force and displacement data via LabJoy software, used to calculate Green strain and membrane tension. Mechanical data were fit to a seven-parameter Fung model (C1–C7), revealing anisotropic non-linear response with radial extensibility exceeding circumferential by ~1.4×, establishing constitutive parameters for future tissue-engineered valve benchmarking.

AUTHORS

Shouka Parvin Nejad, Bahram Mirani, Zahra Mirzaei, Craig A. Simmons.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Acta Biomaterialia

YEAR

2024

INSTITUTIONS

University of Toronto, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research

COUNTRIES

Canada

INSTRUMENT USED

BioTester

TESTING METHODS

Biaxial TestingHydrated and Temperature Controlled TestingTensile TestingViscoelastic & Time-Dependent Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cardiac Tissue Engineering & MechanicsECM & Decellularized Matrix MechanicsFibrosis & Tissue RemodelingHeart Valve Tissue Engineering & MechanicsMechanotransduction

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