Calcification is a major failure mode of bioprosthetic heart valves. So far, cost and time saving in vitro analyses of calcification potentials are unreliable, mostly due to superficial or spontaneous precipitation of the applied fluids. In this study, we developed a near-physiological non-spontaneously precipitating fluid for an accelerated in vitro calcification assessment, and validated it by analyzing the calcification potential of two prosthetic materials within two reference-tests. The first test focused on the comparison of four calcification fluids under dynamic contact with n=12 commercial bovine pericardium patches. The second one focused on the validation of the most appropriate fluid by analyzing the calcification potential of pericardium vs. polyurethane. The patches were mounted in separate test compartments and treated simultaneously with the respective fluids at an accelerated test frequency. Calcification propensity and progression were detected macroscopically and microscopically. Structural analyses of all deposits indicated hydroxyapatite by X-ray powder diffraction, which is also most commonly observed in vivo. Histological examination by von Kossa staining showed matrix internal and superficial calcifications, depending on the fluid composition. The present study reveals promising results towards the development of a meaningful, cost and time saving in vitro analysis of the calcification potential of bioprosthetic heart valves.

钙化是生物人工心脏瓣膜的主要失效模式。到目前为止，节省成本和时间的钙化电位体外分析是不可靠的，主要是由于应用流体的表面或自发沉淀。在这项研究中，我们开发了一种近乎生理的非自发沉淀流体，用于加速体外钙化评估，并通过在两个参考测试中分析两种假体材料的钙化潜力来验证它。第一个测试集中在与 n=12 商业牛心包贴片动态接触下的四种钙化液的比较。第二个重点是通过分析心包与聚氨酯的钙化潜力来验证最合适的液体。贴片安装在单独的测试隔间中，并在加速测试频率下用相应的流体同时处理。在宏观和微观上检测钙化倾向和进展。通过 X 射线粉末衍射对所有沉积物的结构分析表明羟基磷灰石，这也是最常见的 体内观察. von Kossa 染色的组织学检查显示基质内部和表面钙化，具体取决于液体成分。本研究揭示了对生物人工心脏瓣膜钙化潜力进行有意义、成本和时间节省的体外分析的发展的有希望的结果。