Why the study?
Polycarbonate urethane is a promising material for heart valve prostheses, but the impact of processing methods on calcification remains unclear.
Does fabrication via hot pressing versus solution casting alter the chemical structure and increase the in vitro calcification propensity of polycarbonate urethane (PCU) patches intended for prosthetic heart valves?
Does fabrication via hot pressing versus solution casting alter the chemical structure and increase the in vitro calcification propensity of polycarbonate urethane (PCU) patches intended for prosthetic heart valves?
Hot pressing polycarbonate urethane induces thermal polymer chain alterations that significantly increase in vitro calcification propensity compared to solution casting, indicating that hot pressing should be avoided when manufacturing polymeric heart valve leaflets.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Hot-pressed PCU shows higher calcification risk in vitro; leaves open optimal processing for durable valve prostheses.
BACKGROUND: Heart valve diseases remain a leading cause of death in industrialized nations. Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) is a promising material for heart valve prostheses due to its biocompatibility and low calcification tendency. However, the impact of processing methods on calcification remains unclear. METHODS: PCU patches were fabricated via hot pressing or solution casting. Both groups (n = 3 each), along with bovine pericardium patches as positive controls (n = 3), were incubated for 10 weeks in a custom in vitro calcification fluid. Calcification, cytocompatibility, and material properties were assessed using light and electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). RESULTS: Calcification was observed in hot-pressed PCU and control patches but not in solution-cast PCU. Both PCU types showed comparable cytocompatibility. Spectroscopy and GPC revealed chemical and structural changes in hot-pressed PCU, likely promoting calcification. CONCLUSION: Hot pressing alters the chemical structure of PCU and increases its calcification propensity without affecting cytocompatibility. These findings highlight the importance of process control and in vitro screening during heart valve material development.
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Ritter et al. (2025) studied this question.
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