Immobilizing Bioactive Molecules Onto Tissue Engineered Heart Valve Scaffold to Achieve Bioactive Scaffold: A Review

The field of tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) is one of the most promising technologies in the field of heart valve replacement. A functional and bioactive scaffold is a crucial factor in the construction of a viable TEHV, as it is similar to the valve extracellular matrix (VECM), and can provide the necessary support for seeded cells to attach, proliferate, and maintain their differentiated function. However, the design of a bioactive scaffold for TEHV remains a challenge. The most effective approaches to design a bioactive scaffold are those that include immobilization of multiple bioactive molecules within a single scaffold. In this review, we highlight the role of growth factors in the repair and regeneration of heart valve by addressing their biological effects at different stages of the healing process. We also address the different concepts and technological details of the methods used for the immobilization of bioactive molecules (BMs) in the bioactive scaffold and the complexity and the future of future direction of TEHV construction. We conclude that immobilization and controlled release of bioactive molecules onto tissue engineered heart valve scaffold may bring about revolutionary new perspectives towards constructing a bioactive TEHV scaffold.