HMN 2025: How Artificial heart valve is found to be safe following long-term test in animals

A research team led by Bristol and Cambridge universities has demonstrated that the polymer material used to make a new artificial heart valve is safe following a six-month test in sheep.

Currently, the 1.5 million patients who need heart valve replacements each year face trade-offs. Mechanical heart valves are durable but require lifelong blood thinners due to a high risk of blood clots, while biological valves made from animal tissue only last between eight to 10 years before they need to be replaced.

The artificial heart valve developed by the researchers is made from SEBS (styrene-block-ethylene/butyleneblock-styrene)—a type of plastic that has excellent durability but does not require blood thinners—and potentially offers the best of both worlds. However, further testing is required before it can be tested in humans.

In their study, published in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, the researchers tested a prototype SEBS heart valve in a preclinical sheep model that mimicked how these valves might perform in humans.

The animals were monitored over six months, to examine potential long-term safety issues associated with the plastic material. At the end of the study, the researchers found no evidence of harmful calcification (mineral buildup) or material deterioration, blood clotting or signs of cell toxicity. Animal health, well-being, blood tests and weight were all stable and normal, and the prototype valve functioned well throughout the testing period, with no need for blood thinners.

“More than 35 million patients’ heart valves are permanently damaged by rheumatic fever and with an aging population this figure is predicted to increase four to five times by 2050,” said Professor Raimondo Ascione from the University of Bristol, the study’s clinical lead. “Our findings could mark the beginning of a new era for artificial heart valves: one that may offer safer, more durable and more patient-friendly options for patients of all ages, with fewer compromises.”

“We are pleased that the new plastic material has been shown to be safe after six months of testing in-vivo,” said Professor Geoff Moggridge from Cambridge’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, biomaterial lead on the project. “Confirming the safety of the material has been an essential and reassuring step for us, and a green light to progress the new heart valve replacement toward bedside testing.”

The results suggest that artificial heart valves made from SEBS are both durable and do not require the lifelong use of blood thinners.

While the research is still in an early stage, the findings help clear a path to future human testing. The next step will be to develop a clinical-grade version of the SEBS polymer heart valve and test it in a larger preclinical trial before seeking approval for a pilot human clinical trial.