PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2016

Planar Biaxial Testing of Heart Valve Cusp Replacement Biomaterials: Experiments, Theory, and Material Constants

Labrosse MR, Jafar R, et al.

Acta Biomaterialia

University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study performed comprehensive planar biaxial mechanical characterization of clinically relevant aortic valve cusp replacement biomaterials and native porcine valve leaflets. Using a multi-protocol biaxial testing framework, the authors quantified nonlinear anisotropic stress–strain behavior and identified material constants for two Fung-type constitutive models. Among the six replacement materials evaluated, CardioCel and Supple PeriGuard most closely matched the mechanical response of young native valve leaflets, while PeriGuard best approximated aged tissue. The results demonstrate that mechanical anisotropy and stiffness matching are critical design criteria for durable aortic valve repair.

Planar biaxial mechanical testing was conducted using a CellScale BioTester system to apply controlled orthogonal tensile displacements to native valve leaflets and cusp replacement biomaterials. The CellScale device enabled precise displacement-controlled loading across multiple biaxial protocols while maintaining tissue hydration and temperature control, allowing robust measurement of anisotropic stress–strain behavior. Integrated imaging and custom data processing supported accurate strain calculation and material parameter identification. CellScale biaxial testing was central to establishing mechanical equivalence between replacement patches and native valve tissue, directly informing material selection strategies for aortic valve repair.

AUTHORS

Michel R. Labrosse, Reza Jafar, Janet Ngu, Munir Boodhwani.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Acta Biomaterialia

YEAR

2016

INSTITUTIONS

University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

COUNTRIES

Canada

INSTRUMENT USED

BioTester

TESTING METHODS

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

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

ECM & Decellularized Matrix MechanicsHeart Valve Tissue Engineering & MechanicsPolymers and Elastomers Testing

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