Enhanced Flexible Materials for Valve Prosthesis Applications

Authors

Makensley LordeusFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Biomedical Engineering

First Advisor's Name

Sharan Ramaswamy

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Nikolaos Tsoukias

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Wei-Chiang Lin

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

Date of Defense

11-13-2015

Abstract

While mechanical, homograft and bio-prosthetic valves have been used in patients for many decades and have made significant improvements in patient morbidity, there is still a distinct need to overcome their limitations. Recently, emerging elastomer heart valves have been shown to be able to better re-create the flow physics of native heart valves, resulting in preferable hemodynamic responses. Unfortunately, elastomers such as silicone are prone to structural failure, which drastically limits their applicability towards the development of valve prosthesis. In order to produce a mechanically more robust silicone substrate, we reinforced it with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility tests revealed that the incorporation of GNPs did not adversely affect cell proliferation or augment adhesion of platelets on the surface of the composite materials. The ECM valves showed good hydrodynamic properties and favorable acute performance compared to a commercially available valve. We conclude that both the Graphene reinforce silicone and the ECM is useful and warrants further evaluation as aortic valve substitutes.

Identifier

FIDC000211

Recommended Citation

Lordeus, Makensley, "Enhanced Flexible Materials for Valve Prosthesis Applications" (2015). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2315.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2315