Scaffolds for tissue engineering of cardiac valves

Tissue engineered heart valves offer a promising alternative for the replacement of diseased heart valves avoiding the limitations faced with currently available bioprosthetic and mechanical heart valves. In the paradigm of tissue engineering, a three-dimensional platform – the so-called scaffold – is essential for cell proliferation, growth and differentiation, as well as the ultimate generation of a functional tissue. A foundation for success in heart valve tissue engineering is a recapitulation of the complex design and diverse mechanical properties of a native valve. This article reviews technological details of the scaffolds that have been applied to date in heart valve tissue engineering research.