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̽��ֱ��valve, called PoliValve, has been developed by scientists at the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol. ̽��ֱ��team’s latest in vitro , published in the journal Biomaterials Science, suggest that the PoliValve can last for up to 25 years in patients, far longer than other types of replacement heart valves. In addition, a small pilot study in sheep showed that the valve is highly compatible with biological tissue. ̽��ֱ��researchers anticipate that the PoliValve can be tested in humans within five years.

More than 1.3 million patients with diseased heart valves need valve replacement globally each year. There are two types of artificial valves currently available, however both have limitations either in durability or in biocompatibility.

Biological valves are made from pig or cow tissue and have good biocompatibility, meaning patients do not need lifelong blood-thinning medication; however, they only last 10-12 years before failing. And mechanical valves, while they have good durability, have poor biocompatibility and patients must take daily blood-thinning drugs to prevent blood clots.

Professor Geoff Moggridge from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and Professor Raimondo Ascione from the ̽��ֱ�� of Bristol have spent three years conducting developmental work and testing on the PoliValve, supported by funding from the British Heart Foundation.

̽��ֱ��device is made from a special co-polymer and is designed to resemble a natural heart valve. It was created by Professor Moggridge, Dr Marta Serrani and Dr Joanna Stasiak at Cambridge and Professor Ascione in Bristol, and builds on earlier work by Professor Maria Laura Costantino’s group at the ̽��ֱ�� of Milan.

̽��ֱ��PoliValve combines excellent durability with biocompatibility, addressing the limitations of current biological and mechanical artificial valves. It is made through a simple moulding process, which also sharply reduces manufacturing and quality control costs.

“These impressive results show the PoliValve is a promising alternative for valve replacement surgery,” said Moggridge, who leads the Structural Materials Group at Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. “While further testing is needed, we think it could make a major difference to the hundreds of thousands of patients who get valve replacement surgery every year.”

According to ISO standards, a new artificial heart valve must withstand a minimum of 200 million repetitions of opening and closing during laboratory testing, equivalent to five years of life span, before it can be tested in humans. ̽��ֱ��new Cambridge-Bristol polymeric valve has comfortably surpassed this.

Initial testing in sheep has been undertaken at Bristol’s Translational Biomedical Research Centre (TBRC) facility as a first step to ensure safety. Long-term testing in sheep, also funded by the British Heart Foundation, will be carried out before bringing this new treatment to human patients.

“Patients requiring an artificial heart valve are often faced with the dilemma of choosing between a metallic or tissue valve replacement,” said Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation. “A metallic valve is long-lasting but requires the patient to take lifelong blood-thinning drugs. Although this medication prevents clots forming on the valve, it also increases the risk of serious bleeding. Patients who have a tissue valve replacement usually don’t need to take this medication. However, the valve is less durable and means the patient may face further surgery.

“ ̽��ֱ��polymer valve combines the benefits of both – it is durable and would not require the need for blood-thinning drugs. While further testing is needed before this valve can be used in patients, this is a promising development, and the BHF is pleased to have supported this research.”

̽��ֱ��PoliValve has also exceeded the requirements of ISO standards for hydrodynamic testing, showing a functional performance comparable to the best-in-class biological valve currently available on the market. ̽��ֱ��small pilot study in sheep demonstrated the device is easy to stitch in, and showed no mechanical failure, no trans-valvular regurgitation, low trans-valvular gradients, and good biocompatibility with tissue.

“ ̽��ֱ��transformational PoliValve results from an advanced Bristol/Cambridge-based biomedical cross-fertilisation between experts in biomaterials, computational modelling, advanced preclinical development/testing and clinical academics understanding the patient needs. ̽��ֱ��new valve could help millions of people worldwide and we aim to test in patients within the next five years,” said Ascione.

̽��ֱ��British Heart Foundation-funded study also included Dr James Taylor from Cambridge’s Whittle Laboratory, a team at Newcastle ̽��ֱ�� headed by Professor Zaman, Professor Saadeh Sulaiman at ̽��ֱ�� of Bristol and Professor Costantino’s group at Politecnico di Milano.

Reference:
Joanna R. Stasiak et al. “.” Biomaterials Science (2020). DOI: 10.1039/D0BM00412J

Adapted from a ̽��ֱ�� of Bristol .��