Towards the Creation of a Bioprinted Aortic Valve Prosthesis

Aortic valve prosthesis recipients face a choice between mechanical and tissue options, both with significant drawbacks.Thus, developing a durable and biocompatible aortic valve prosthesis is essential, and DLP bioprinting is well-suited for this task.A commercial-grade DLP printer was modified for bioprinting a prosthesis with three leaflets, mimicking the natural human aortic valve.Key evaluations focused on durability, hemodynamics, and mechanical characteristics.A mock circulatory loop (MCL) was created to assess durability over 12 hours.An in-silico patient model, reflecting cardiovascular health indicators, showed the prosthesis had minimal stenosis and slightly increased backflow, leading to stable systolic pressure and acceptable diastolic fluctuations.Cardiac output remained around 4.3 l/min, with favorable hemodynamics and a low hemolysis rate.This study highlights the potential of DLP bioprinted aortic valve prostheses as viable alternatives to existing options, although further improvements in testing protocols and mechanical properties are necessary.