Development of autologous heart valves "biovalves" and their application to TAVI by combination of photomolding and in-body tissue architecture

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293314
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular surgery
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Nakayama Yasuhide 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, その他部局等, その他 (50250262)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: バイオバルブ / 心臓弁 / 再生医療 / 生体内組織形成術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Biovalve preparation molds could be produced rapidly by using a 3D printing machine. Upon 2- month goat subcutaneous embedding aortic or pulmonary valve-shaped Biovalves were obtained from completely autologous connective tissue with collagen and fibroblasts. The three leaflet tissues were seamlessly connected with the surrounding conduit tissue, and showed homogeneous wall thickness and excellent mechanical strength that was equivalent to or more than that of the human pericardium, with individual or regional differences. As an aortic valve, in vitro evaluation of Biovalve showed excellent valvular functions. In a goat model, postoperative echocardiography after surgical replacement of the biovalves with stents showed smooth movement of the leaflets with little regurgitation under systemic circulation. In all implantation studies, the luminal surface after implantation was very smooth and fully covered with thin neointima, including endothelial cells without thrombus formation.

Free Research Field

再生医療工学、医療機器開発