Clarification of structure-function correlation of silk fibroin for Next Generation Heart Valve

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H03020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: NAKAZAWA Yasumoto 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20456255)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KUROBE Hirotsugu 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部, 特任講師 (30380083) ; ASANO Atsushi 防衛大学校, 応用化学科, 教授 (90545972)
• Research Collaborator: MURAKAMI Tomoaki 東京農工大学, 大学院農学研究院, 助教 ; TARA Shuhei 日本医科大学, 附属病院, 講師
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 組織工学 / 心臓弁 / シルクフィブロイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Silk fibroin (SF) is a biodegradable material, however, it lacks the elasticity required for a artificial heart valves. Polyurethane (PU) and polycarbonate(PC) are well-known for elastomer so this study focused on a SF-PU or SF-PC composite materials for tissue engineering materials, especially regeneration heart valves.
As a result, we succeeded in nano-fiber sheets material. And each materials were able to exhibit good results in terms of improvement in physical properties, inhibition of inflammation and calcification, and tissue regeneration. However, it was found that infiltration of cells and tissues into the interior of the sheet was slight by animal implantation experiments.Continuing this research, we aim to propose new materials applicable to absorbable heart valves in the future.

Free Research Field

組織工学・生体医工学・生体材料学