SEBS polymer synthetic coronary heart valve prototype. Credit score: Professor Raimondo Ascione, College of Bristol
A analysis workforce led by Bristol and Cambridge universities has demonstrated that the polymer materials used to make a brand new synthetic coronary heart valve is secure following a six-month take a look at in sheep.
Presently, the 1.5 million sufferers who want coronary heart valve replacements annually face trade-offs. Mechanical coronary heart valves are sturdy however require lifelong blood thinners as a result of a excessive danger of blood clots, whereas organic valves produced from animal tissue solely final between eight to 10 years earlier than they have to be changed.
The bogus coronary heart valve developed by the researchers is produced from SEBS (styrene-block-ethylene/butyleneblock-styrene)—a sort of plastic that has glorious sturdiness however doesn’t require blood thinners—and doubtlessly gives one of the best of each worlds. Nevertheless, additional testing is required earlier than it may be examined in people.
Of their examine, printed within the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgical procedure, the researchers examined a prototype SEBS coronary heart valve in a preclinical sheep mannequin that mimicked how these valves would possibly carry out in people.
The animals had been monitored over six months, to look at potential long-term questions of safety related to the plastic materials. On the finish of the examine, the researchers discovered no proof of dangerous calcification (mineral buildup) or materials deterioration, blood clotting or indicators of cell toxicity. Animal well being, well-being, blood checks and weight had been all steady and regular, and the prototype valve functioned properly all through the testing interval, without having for blood thinners.
“More than 35 million patients’ heart valves are permanently damaged by rheumatic fever and with an aging population this figure is predicted to increase four to five times by 2050,” mentioned Professor Raimondo Ascione from the College of Bristol, the examine’s scientific lead. “Our findings could mark the beginning of a new era for artificial heart valves: one that may offer safer, more durable and more patient-friendly options for patients of all ages, with fewer compromises.”
“We are pleased that the new plastic material has been shown to be safe after six months of testing in-vivo,” mentioned Professor Geoff Moggridge from Cambridge’s Division of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, biomaterial lead on the undertaking. “Confirming the safety of the material has been an essential and reassuring step for us, and a green light to progress the new heart valve replacement toward bedside testing.”
The outcomes recommend that synthetic coronary heart valves produced from SEBS are each sturdy and don’t require the lifelong use of blood thinners.
Whereas the analysis remains to be in an early stage, the findings assist clear a path to future human testing. The subsequent step might be to develop a clinical-grade model of the SEBS polymer coronary heart valve and take a look at it in a bigger preclinical trial earlier than searching for approval for a pilot human scientific trial.
Extra data:
Raimondo Ascione et al, Materials Security of Styrene-Block-Ethylene/Butylene-Block-Styrene Copolymers Used for Cardiac Valves: 6-Month In Vivo Outcomes from a Juvenile Sheep Mannequin, European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgical procedure (2025). DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezaf266
Supplied by
Division of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, College of Cambridge
Quotation:
Synthetic coronary heart valve discovered to be secure following long-term take a look at in animals (2025, August 20)
retrieved 20 August 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-08-artificial-heart-valve-safe-term.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal examine or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for data functions solely.
