Microwave sterilization of bovine pericardium for heart valve applications

It is widely recognised that the bioprosthetic valves widely used for heart valve replacements have some drawbacks, for example tearing and occurrence of infections, which can be attributed to the fixation and sterilization techniques currently available. These techniques adversely affect the physic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of artificial organs 2010-04, Vol.13 (1), p.24-30
Main Authors: Patel, Shital S, Owida, Amal A, Morsi, Yos S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bioprosthesis - microbiology
Cattle
Escherichia coli - isolation & purification
Heart Valve Prosthesis - microbiology
Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation - methods
Materials Testing
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microwaves
Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification
Sterilization - methods
Tensile Strength
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Summary:It is widely recognised that the bioprosthetic valves widely used for heart valve replacements have some drawbacks, for example tearing and occurrence of infections, which can be attributed to the fixation and sterilization techniques currently available. These techniques adversely affect the physical properties, functionality, and lifespan of the leaflets. In the work discussed in this paper we examined a novel procedure of using high-frequency microwaves to fix and disinfect the pericardium, without causing any harmful affects. The test bacteria used were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The pericardium was exposed to microwaves at a frequency of 18 GHz for three consecutive replicates. The findings indicated that there was almost complete inactivation of the bacteria on the biomaterial without compromising the biocompatibility, which was studied using ovine fibroblasts. An effective fixation and sterilization procedure, that is quick and has no adverse effects is presented and discussed.
ISSN:1619-0904
DOI:10.1007/s10047-010-0489-9