Inorganic‐polymerization crosslinked tissue‐siloxane hybrid as potential biomaterial for bioprosthetic heart valves

Abstract Bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) replacement is increasingly used for treating valve‐related diseases worldwide but the current commercially used BHVs treated with glutaraldehyde (Glut) often failed within 12–15 years due to degradation, thrombosis, inferior biocompatibility, and calcification. Herein, 3‐glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) was used to crosslink porcine pericardium (PP) at the concentration (vol/vol) of 0.25%, 1%, 2%, and 4% and their performance for potential application in BHVs was evaluated. The crosslinking mechanism mainly involved the ring‐opening of epoxide by amine attack and silanol poly‐condensation. The stability of collagen in higher concentration (1%, 2%, and 4%) GPTMS crosslinked PPs (GPTMS‐PPs) was clearly increased. GPTMS‐PPs showed no cytotoxicity and supported the growth of endothelial cells while Glut‐PP did not. GPTMS‐PPs were less prothrombotic than Glut‐PP. GPTMS‐PP crosslinked at 1% concentration showed comparable mechanical properties to Glut‐PP while had better anti‐tearing performance. The subcutaneous implantation in rat for 30 days showed that GPTMS crosslinking was able to effectively inhibit the calcification of BHV.