Development Of A Novel Synthetic Leaflet Heart Valve Using A New Nanocomposite Material With Advanced Biomechanical Properties.

OBJECTIVES: Heart valves (HV) are also prone to calcification, thrombogenicity and structural failure. We are working in development of polymeric HV using a newly developed and patented nanocomposite polymer based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticle and poly(carbonate urea)urethane (PCU). This polymer has exhibited enhanced biocompatibility, biostability, and anti-thrombogenic tested in vitro and in vivo. Here, we present calcification resistance and mechanical and surface properties of POSS-PCU in an in vitro pulsatile flow fatigue testing system. METHODS: POSS-PCU and polyurethane (PU) polymers were extruded in 100 μm flat sheets and with glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium (BP) were placed in flow chamber and exposed to the pulsatile mechanical stress in an especially designed accelerated physiological pulsatile flow system for 40x106 cycles. Then samples were studied for calcification, mechanical and surface properties, using X-Ray, quantitative chemical analysis, light and confocal microscopy, and SEM, contact angle measurement and stress-strain properties. RESULTS: POSS-PCU nanocomposite was significantly resistant to calcification, compared to PU and BP (p CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that POSS-PCU nanocomposite could be an attractive material of choice for development of synthetic leaflet HV.