Fabrication and characterization of a 3D scaffold based on elastomeric poly-glycerol Sebacate polymer for heart valve applications

Heart valve disease is one of the major reasons for cardiovascular complications and mortalities worldwide. Despite significant breakthroughs in multiple valve designs with various leaflet shapes over the last two decades, biomimetic, biocompatible, non-immunogenic, and non-thrombotic HVTE replacements which are more applicable have not completely achieved. The manufacturing strategy has a significant impact on the physical properties of the leaflets, and hence on the valve's durability and hemodynamic function. In this study, a 3D bio-functional elastomeric biomimetic heart valve, using poly (glycerol-sebacate) (PGS)-poly (caprolactone) (PCL) - gelatin (PPG) is fabricated through melt-molding method with the aid of a 3D-printed designed mold. Post fabrication, the resultant scaffold surface is coated with a layer of PGS-gelatin using dip-coating with a crosslinking agent. The surface topography and morphological evaluations revealed that the addition of a crosslinker to PPG significantly enhances the surface integrity with a reduced roughness. The contact angle had increased from 28.84 ± 1.6 and 39.54 ± 2.1° due to crosslinking. The tensile and flexural strength of crosslinked PPG film showed a significant improvement in elasticity and bending properties compared to PPG with no crosslinking. The coating layer was found to provide mechanical stability, and foldable and elastomeric heart valve scaffolds. In fact, greater durability with a a higher hydrodynamic performance is reported. Moreover, cellular response and hemo-compatibility were improved in the crosslinked scaffold. The results greatly suggest a promising crosslinked 3D valve analog with elastomeric characteristics as an advancement in HVTE, and also to may be the future trends application in minimal invasive surgery through trans-catheter heart valve replacement.