Comparisons of the mechanical properties of the porcine decellularized aortic valves by cross-linking with branched polyethylene glycol

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Objective Branched polyethylene glycols (PEG) with different molecular weight were cross-linked to the porcine decellularized aortic valve (DAV) and the effects of PEG cross-linking on the mechanical properties were investigated. Methods A total of 25 porcine DAVs were randomly assigned into 5 groups: PEG3400, PEG8000, PEG12000, PEG20000 and control. The reactive time was 4 h at room temperature. The efficiency of crosslinking was calculated by measuring the residual thiol group. The mechanical properties were obtained by static tensile test. Results The efficiency of crosslinking was 92. 40% , 89. 88% , 87. 87% and 87. 46% in PEG3400, PEG8000, PEG12000, PEG20000 groups, respectively. As compared with other groups, the PEG3400 group had significantly greater increase in the crosslinking degree (P ＜ 0. 05). Tensile test showed the tensile strength of PEG12000 and PEG20000 groups was (3. 22 ±0.41) and (3. 19 ±0. 15) MPa, respectively, and significantly different from that in control group (P ＜ 0. 05). The tensile strength and young' s modulus had a positive correlation with the molecular weight of PEG. Conclusion Branched PEG with the molecular weight of 12 000 Da and 20 000 Dacan effectively crosslink to the porcine decellularized aortic valves and improve their mechanical behaviors, and has the potential to be used as the material of fabricating new hybrid scaffold of tissue engineering heart valves. Key words: Aortic valves; Branched polyethylene glycol; Crosslink; Mechanical properties