Development and preclinical testing of biodegradable and autologous cell-seeded devices for the therapy of congenital cardiac septum defects.

(Dr. C. Jux, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Georg-August University Göttingen: Email: kinderkardiologie@web.de)

The project aim is the development and testing of complete biodegradable systems ("biological implants") for the interventional therapy of congenital heart defects (atrial-and ventricular septum defects).

Conventional septum defect occlusion systems can be pre-seeded with autologous cells such that the cells are able to survive the mechanical stress of the implantation procedure. Lining the systems with a collagen matrix increases not only the cell density but also the cellular vitality index and promotes proliferation capabilities following implantation. The pre-seeding of the cells induces the ingrowth of the devices into a thick, mechanically firm layer of tissue.

Corroding metal alloys with high iron content, and elastic polymer connections are also being tested in the development of a biodegradable umbrella device. Together with the umbrella coating scaffold, the permanent synthetic material is replaced by a completely biodegradable collagen matrix.