Assessment of Parylene C Thin Films for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Scaffolds are a key component of tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs). Several approaches had been adopted in the design of scaffolds using both natural and synthetic resources. We have investigated the suitability of parylene C (PC), a vapor deposited polymeric material, for the use as a scaffold in TEHV. Aims To evaluate the adsorption of extracellular matrix components onto plasma-activated PC and study the biocompatibility of PC by measuring cellular adhesion, viability, apoptosis, and phenotypic expression of valve endothelial and interstitial cells. Finally, the mechanical properties of PC were compared with those of native aortic valve cusp tissue. Methods PC slides were plasma activated and then coated with gelatin, type I collagen, or fibronectin. Porcine pulmonary valve endothelial and interstitial cells were then grown on plasma oxidized PC with different types of coatings and their adhesion was observed after 20 h of incubation. Cell viability was tested using the MTS assay, and apoptosis was estimated using TUNEL staining. The mechanical properties of PC and valve tissue were measured using a Bose Mechanical Tester. Finally, cell-seeded PC films were exposed to pulsatile pressure and aortic shear stress, respectively, to test their durability in a dynamic environment. Results Our findings show that collagen and fibronectin could bind to plasma oxidized

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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