Layer-by-layer incorporation of growth factors in decellularized aortic heart valve leaflets.
Aortic heart valve disease is a growing health problem and a tissue-engineered aortic heart valve could be a promising therapy. In this paper, decellularized porcine aortic heart valve leaflets are used as scaffolds and loaded with growth factor and heparin via layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition (LbL technique) with the final purpose to stimulate and control cellular processes. Binding and subsequent release of heparin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) from aortic valve leaflets were assessed qualitatively by immunohistochemistry and quantitatively by radioactive labeling methods. It was observed that the amount of heparin and bFGF bound to aortic heart valve leaflets was directly proportional to the concentration of heparin and bFGF in the incubation medium. Release of heparin and bFGF from the decellularized heart valve leaflets at physiological conditions was sustained over 4 days while preserving the biological activity of the released growth factor.
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Liesbeth J
LJ
De Cock
Stefaan
S
De Koker
Filip
F
De Vos
Chris
C
Vervaet
Jean-Paul
JP
Remon
Bruno G
BG
De Geest
D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000378:metabolism*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008956:Models, Chemical; D013552:Swine
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D002482:Cellulose; D006493:Heparin