title: In vivo tissue engineering of heart valves: evolution of a novel concept.
abstract: Current tissue-engineering principles of heart valves include tissue- or stem cell-derived cells with subsequent in vitro incubation on various scaffolds prior to implantation. Limitations of this approach include a long in vitro culture, an accompanied risk of infection and sophisticated, cost-intensive infrastructures. An 'off-the-shelf' heart valve with in vivo endothelialization and tissue-regeneration potential would overcome these limitations. Additionally, the development of a heart valve with growth potential would be a huge improvement for pediatric patients. This article discusses different starter matrices, homing and immobilization strategies of host cells and masking approaches of inflammatory structures for in vivo surface and tissue engineering of heart valves. Novel concepts will be presented based on highly specific DNA-aptamers immobilized on the heart valve surface as capture molecules for endothelial progenitor cells circulating in the bloodstream.
authors: Department of Thoracic, Cardiac & Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Schleicher
authors: Hans Peter
authors: HP
authors: Wendel
authors: Olaf
authors: O
authors: Fritze
authors: Ulrich A
authors: UA
authors: Stock
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide