Preclinical Testing of Tissue-Engineered Heart Valves Re-Endothelialized Under Simulated Physiological Conditions

Abstract

In vitro re-endothelialization of detergent-decellularized valves with autologous ECs under simulated physiological conditions significantly improves total EC valve coverage 3 months after implantation, whereas the valve repopulation with interstitial cells in vivo occurs most likely by cell migration inside the scaffold.