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Full-Text Articles in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Characterization Of Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells Responsible For Elastogenesis, Sana Nasim
Characterization Of Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells Responsible For Elastogenesis, Sana Nasim
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The aortic valve (AoV) controls unidirectional blood distribution from the left ventricle of the heart to the aorta for systemic circulation. During the systolic and diastolic phases, AoV leaflets rely on a precise extracellular matrix (ECM) microarchitecture for appropriate biomechanical performance based on the arrangement of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. The ECM structure is generated and maintained by valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside within the leaflets. VICs are a heterogeneous population of cells that are derived from a mixture of developmental precursors. Mainly, VICs arise from endocardial and neural crest cells that migrate into the cardiac cushions during development. …
Enhanced Flexible Materials For Valve Prosthesis Applications, Makensley Lordeus
Enhanced Flexible Materials For Valve Prosthesis Applications, Makensley Lordeus
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
While mechanical, homograft and bio-prosthetic valves have been used in patients for many decades and have made significant improvements in patient morbidity, there is still a distinct need to overcome their limitations. Recently, emerging elastomer heart valves have been shown to be able to better re-create the flow physics of native heart valves, resulting in preferable hemodynamic responses. Unfortunately, elastomers such as silicone are prone to structural failure, which drastically limits their applicability towards the development of valve prosthesis. In order to produce a mechanically more robust silicone substrate, we reinforced it with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility tests …