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Tsolaki E, Corso P, Zboray R, Avaro J, Appel C, Liebi M, Bertazzo S, Heinisch PP, Carrel T, Obrist D, Herrmann IK. Multiscale multimodal characterization and simulation of structural alterations in failed bioprosthetic heart valves. Acta Biomater 2023; 169:138-154. [PMID: 37517619 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Calcific degeneration is the most frequent type of heart valve failure, with rising incidence due to the ageing population. The gold standard treatment to date is valve replacement. Unfortunately, calcification oftentimes re-occurs in bioprosthetic substitutes, with the governing processes remaining poorly understood. Here, we present a multiscale, multimodal analysis of disturbances and extensive mineralisation of the collagen network in failed bioprosthetic bovine pericardium valve explants with full histoanatomical context. In addition to highly abundant mineralized collagen fibres and fibrils, calcified micron-sized particles previously discovered in native valves were also prevalent on the aortic as well as the ventricular surface of bioprosthetic valves. The two mineral types (fibres and particles) were detectable even in early-stage mineralisation, prior to any macroscopic calcification. Based on multiscale multimodal characterisation and high-fidelity simulations, we demonstrate that mineral occurrence coincides with regions exposed to high haemodynamic and biomechanical indicators. These insights obtained by multiscale analysis of failed bioprosthetic valves serve as groundwork for the evidence-based development of more durable alternatives. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bioprosthetic valve calcification is a well-known clinically significant phenomenon, leading to valve failure. The nanoanalytical characterisation of bioprosthetic valves gives insights into the highly abundant, extensive calcification and disorganization of the collagen network and the presence of calcium phosphate particles previously reported in native cardiovascular tissues. While the collagen matrix mineralisation can be primarily attributed to a combination of chemical and mechanical alterations, the calcified particles are likely of host cellular origin. This work presents a straightforward route to mineral identification and characterization at high resolution and sensitivity, and with full histoanatomical context and correlation to hemodynamic and biomechanical indicators, hence providing design cues for improved bioprosthetic valve alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tsolaki
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen 9014, Switzerland; Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute of Energy and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Corso
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 3, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Robert Zboray
- Center for X-Ray Analytics, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Ueberlandstrasse 129, Duebendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Avaro
- Center for X-Ray Analytics, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Ueberlandstrasse 129, Duebendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | | | - Marianne Liebi
- Center for X-Ray Analytics, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Ueberlandstrasse 129, Duebendorf 8600, Switzerland; Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI, Villigen 5232, Switzerland; Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Sergio Bertazzo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, WC1E 6BT, UK; London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul Philipp Heinisch
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, Bern 3010, Switzerland; Department of Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Thierry Carrel
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, Bern 3010, Switzerland; Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Rämistrasse 101, Zürich 8091, Switzerland.
| | - Dominik Obrist
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 3, Bern 3010, Switzerland.
| | - Inge K Herrmann
- Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, Department of Materials Meet Life, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, St. Gallen 9014, Switzerland; Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute of Energy and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich 8092, Switzerland.
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