Study shows coated heart valve can withstand 30 years of usage
BioInteractions, a UK biomaterial technology company, has announced findings from a recent University of Cambridge study into the efficacy of Astute, BioInteractions’ antithrombogenic medical coating. The study showed that an Astute coated heart valve could withstand a billion cycles of opening and closing which corresponds to 30 years of usage.
As part of a University of Cambridge-led study, a team of scientists developed and tested at ISO standards a novel prosthetic heart valve featuring competitive bench-based hydrodynamics and durability. The prosthetics were then heparin-coated using either BioInteractions’ Astute Advanced Heparin Coating or a competitor’s product.
Astute is BioInteractions’ unique antithrombogenic coating. It uses an active antithrombogenic component combined with additional passive components to mimic the natural endothelial layer, which gives the coating the ability to interrupt the blood cascade mechanism, preventing platelets from activating, and hinders thrombus formation. This ensures the blood remains inactive and does not clot further along in the patient. Astute uses only non-leaching components, which reduces patient risk and helps the coating to continue performing without reduction in its effectiveness over time. The study results show Astute demonstrated good hemocompatibility performance and no thrombus formation under high and low shear conditions in a deep coronary arterial injury simulation. Additionally, Astute has demonstrated long term biocompatibility within a highly stressful clinical environment in chronic areas of the patient.
Arjun Luthra, commercial director of BioInteractions, said: “The study underscores Astute's exceptional capabilities in preventing thrombus formation around an implant or medical device, specifically in a deep coronary arterial injury scenario. It shows that coating the heart valve with Astute gives the valve unparalleled durability, successfully withstanding a staggering billion cycles of opening and closing: the equivalent to an impressive 30 years of usage.”
The results from this study show that younger patients with chronic illnesses become candidates for implants and medical devices at an earlier age, as Astute allows them to last for much longer periods of time in the body. Up to now, candidacy was limited by a patient’s life expectancy.
Luthra added: “Beyond performance metrics, Astute brings transformative benefits to the medical device landscape. It breathes new life into aging devices, expanding the portfolio of devices in use. The longevity of Astute-coated devices translates to cost savings, enhanced patient safety, and accelerated time-to-market. Furthermore, Astute allows for the placement of devices in younger patients with chronic issues, addressing a broader range of medical needs. Its unique properties enable the placement of devices in challenging areas of the body, including heart valve replacements, haemodialysis systems, neurological implants, and oxygenators.”