Tissue-Engineered Heart Valve Leaflets: An Effective Method for Seeding Autologous Cells on Scaffolds

Background A precondition for the successful formation of tissue-engineered heart valves is the generation of a proper matrix on biodegradable scaffolds over a limited period of time. The aim of this study was to find an effective method of seeding autologous cells on these scaffolds to create a new matrix for heart valves.Methods Myofibroblasts and endothelial cells were isolated and cultured from an ovine artery. A synthetic biodegradable scaffold consisting of polyglycolic and polylactic acids was seeded first with the myofibroblasts, then coated with endothelial cells. Three different methods of myofibroblast seeding were compared: I) daily seeding of myofibroblasts (1×106) for ten days and culture for four days; II) seeding of myofibroblasts (1×107) and culture for 14 days with the use of a simple medium; III) seeding of myofibroblasts (1×107) with the use of a medium containing collagen and culture for 14 days. Light and electron microscopic analyses were perfomed.Results The group that used the medium containing collagen showed the best results in terms of seeding efficiency.Conclusion Seeding autologous cells with a medium containing collagen onto the scaffold showed the largest cell population and might generate the best matrix on the scaffold.