Optimizing the tensile properties of @entity4832 hydrogel for the construction of a bioprosthetic XXXX .

@entity939 @entity4832 @entity146 @entity730 @entity340
Although bioprosthetic heart valves offer the benefits of a natural opening and closing, better hemodynamics, and avoidance of life-long anticoagulant therapy, they nevertheless tend to fail in 10-15 years from tears and @entity730 . Several authors, including the present ones, have identified the rigid stent as a factor contributing to these failures. The ultimate solution is an artificial heart valve that has mechanical properties that allow it to move in conformity with the aortic root during the cardiac cycle, has superior hemodynamics, is nonthrombogenic, will last more than 20 years, and mitigates the need for anticoagulants. We have identified a polymer, @entity4832 ( @entity939 ) hydrogel, that has mechanical properties similar to soft tissue. The purpose of this research is to match the tensile properties of @entity939 to the porcine aortic root and to fabricate a stent prototype for a bioprosthetic heart valve with the use of the @entity939 hydrogel. Specimens of 15% w/w @entity939 were prepared by processing through 1-6 cycles of freezing (-20 degrees C) at 0.2 degrees C/min freeze rate and thawing (+20 degrees C) at different thawing rates (0.2 degrees C/min and 1 degrees C/min), for different holding times (1 and 6 h) at -20 degrees C. Subsequently tensile tests and stress-relaxation tests were conducted on the specimens. The different holding times at -20 degrees C demonstrated no difference in the result. The slower thawing rate improved the tensile properties but did not produce significant changes on the stress-relaxation properties. The nonlinear stress-strain curve for the @entity939 after the fourth freeze-thaw cycle matched the porcine aortic root within the physiological pressure range. The stress-relaxation curve for @entity939 also approximated the shape of the aortic root. The complex geometry of an artificial @entity340 was successfully injection molded. These results, in combination with other preliminary findings for biocompatibility and @entity146 , suggest that @entity939 hydrogel is a promising biomaterial for implants, catheters, and artificial skin.
