MONTREAL, November 30, 2023 – 3D printing functional heart valves? This incredible discovery by CHU Sainte-Justine researcher Houman Savoji and his PhD student Arman Jafari was recently published in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials. The authors have successfully produced a bio-ink that can be used to print functional, durable heart valves. This major breakthrough offers hope for improving the prognosis of children with heart defects.

The right compound for biomimetic heart valves

Tissue engineering is an interesting way to create living tissues and organs by combining biomaterials with cells. Unlike mechanical heart valves, for example, engineered biomimetic valves would develop and grow with the recipients. Such tissues and organs would be manufactured with a 3D printer, with the right bio-ink, like the one developed by Houman Savoji, also professor at Université de Montréal.

“My team has shown that an ink composed of polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin and k-carrageenan can be used to print heart valves that open and close correctly and has in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and anti-thrombogenic properties. They function well in a physiological environment like that of the human body, in both adult and children’s sizes,” explained the researcher. This compound also provides a structure (called a “scaffold”) in which stem cells can potentially grow until they are replaced by a fully living tissue.

Better still, the valves generated fewer adverse effects in laboratory tests than the mechanical or animal valves currently used in patients. “These results suggest that our valves may be associated with a lower risk of complications than those currently used in transplants,” said Arman Jafari. “And since these are biomimetic artificial tissues, they can potentially grow with a transplanted child, limiting the need for repeat surgery.” 

In the coming years, the authors intend to carry on their research with in vivo trials so this technology can one day be available to our little patients.

Arman Jafari is showing a freshly printed heart valve. Up: live printing of a heart valve in Houman Savoji's laboratory. © CHU Sainte-Justine (Véronique Lavoie).

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