J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
July 2018
Objective: With the increasing use of bioprostheses worldwide, continuous efforts have been made to improve tissue durability. We introduce a new treatment for bovine pericardium combining octanediol-ethanol based phospholipid removal with taurine-based glutaraldehyde neutralization and storage in an aldehyde-free solution (FREE).
Methods: Treated tissues were evaluated by mechanical and biochemical characterization, phospholipid content, aldehyde levels, cell cultures on pericardial samples (L929 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells), rat subcutaneous implantations, and long-term juvenile sheep mitral valve implantations (n = 3).