Targeted Rapamycin Delivery via Magnetic Nanoparticles to Address Stenosis in a 3D Bioprinted in Vitro Model of Pulmonary Veins.

Vascular cell overgrowth and lumen size reduction in pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) can result in elevated PV pressure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac failure, and death. Administration of chemotherapies such as rapamycin have shown promise by inhibiting the vascular cell proliferation; yet clinical success is limited due to complications such as restenosis and off-target effects. The lack of in vitro models to recapitulate the complex pathophysiology of PVS has hindered the identification of disease mechanisms and therapies. This study integrated 3D bioprinting, functional nanoparticles, and perfusion bioreactors to develop a novel in vitro model of PVS. Bioprinted bifurcated PV constructs are seeded with endothelial cells (ECs) and perfused, demonstrating the formation of a uniform and viable endothelium. Computational modeling identified the bifurcation point at high risk of EC overgrowth. Application of an external magnetic field enabled targeting of the rapamycin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles at the bifurcation site, leading to a significant reduction in EC proliferation with no adverse side effects. These results establish a 3D bioprinted in vitro model to study PV homeostasis and diseases, offering the potential for increased throughput, tunability, and patient specificity, to test new or more effective therapies for PVS and other vascular diseases.

Mind the Gap! Working Toward Gender Equity in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: Present and Future.

Evidence from medicine and other fields has shown that gender diversity results in better decision making and outcomes. The incoming workforce of congenital heart specialists (especially in pediatric cardiology) appears to be more gender balanced, but past studies have shown many inequities. Gender-associated differences in leadership positions, opportunities presented for academic advancement, and recognition for academic contributions to the field persist. In addition, compensation packages remain disparate if evaluated based on gender with equivalent experience and expertise. This review explores these inequities and has suggested individual and institutional changes that could be made to recruit and retain women, monitor the climate of the institution, and identify and eliminate bias in areas like salary and promotions.

Leveraging 3D Bioprinting and Photon-Counting Computed Tomography to Enable Noninvasive Quantitative Tracking of Multifunctional Tissue Engineered Constructs.

3D bioprinting is revolutionizing the fields of personalized and precision medicine by enabling the manufacturing of bioartificial implants that recapitulate the structural and functional characteristics of native tissues. However, the lack of quantitative and noninvasive techniques to longitudinally track the function of implants has hampered clinical applications of bioprinted scaffolds. In this study, multimaterial 3D bioprinting, engineered nanoparticles (NPs), and spectral photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) technologies are integrated for the aim of developing a new precision medicine approach to custom-engineer scaffolds with traceability. Multiple CT-visible hydrogel-based bioinks, containing distinct molecular (iodine and gadolinium) and NP (iodine-loaded liposome, gold, methacrylated gold (AuMA), and Gd2 O3 ) contrast agents, are used to bioprint scaffolds with varying geometries at adequate fidelity levels. In vitro release studies, together with printing fidelity, mechanical, and biocompatibility tests identified AuMA and Gd2 O3 NPs as optimal reagents to track bioprinted constructs. Spectral PCCT imaging of scaffolds in vitro and subcutaneous implants in mice enabled noninvasive material discrimination and contrast agent quantification. Together, these results establish a novel theranostic platform with high precision, tunability, throughput, and reproducibility and open new prospects for a broad range of applications in the field of precision and personalized regenerative medicine.

Durable Vascular Access in Neonates in the Cardiac ICU: A Novel Technique for Tunneled Femoral Central Venous Catheters.

OBJECTIVES: There is an ongoing need for a method of obtaining long-term venous access in critically ill pediatric patients that can be completed at the bedside and results in a durable, highly functional device. We designed a novel technique for tunneled femoral access to address this need. Herein, we describe the procedure and review the outcomes at our institution. DESIGN: A single-center retrospective chart review identifying patients who underwent tunneled femoral central venous catheter (tfCVC) placement between 2017 and 2021 using a two-puncture technique developed by our team. SETTING: Academic, Quaternary Children's Hospital with a dedicated pediatric cardiac ICU (CICU). PATIENTS: Patients in our pediatric CICU who underwent this procedure. INTERVENTIONS: Tunneled femoral central line placement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred eighty-two encounters were identified in 161 patients. The median age and weight at the time of catheter placement was 22 days and 3.2 kg. The median duration of the line was 22 days. The central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate was 0.75 per 1,000-line days. The prevalence rate of thrombi necessitating pharmacologic treatment was 2.0 thrombi per 1,000-line days. There was no significant difference in CLABSI rate per 1,000-line days between the tfCVC and nontunneled peripherally inserted central catheters placed over the same period in a similar population (-0.40 [95% CI, -1.61 to 0.82; p = 0.52]) and no difference in thrombus rates per 1,000-line days (1.37 [95% CI, -0.15 to 2.89; p = 0.081]). CONCLUSIONS: tfCVCs can be placed by the intensivist team using a two-puncture technique at the bedside with a high-rate of procedural success and low rate of complications. Advantages of this novel technique of obtaining vascular access include a low rate of CLABSIs, the ability to place it at the bedside, and preservation of the upper extremity vasculature.

Extrusion-Based 3D Bioprinting of Adhesive Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Using Hybrid Functionalized Hydrogel Bioinks.

Adhesive tissue engineering scaffolds (ATESs) have emerged as an innovative alternative means, replacing sutures and bioglues, to secure the implants onto target tissues. Relying on their intrinsic tissue adhesion characteristics, ATES systems enable minimally invasive delivery of various scaffolds. This study investigates development of the first class of 3D bioprinted ATES constructs using functionalized hydrogel bioinks. Two ATES delivery strategies, in situ printing onto the adherend versus printing and then transferring to the target surface, are tested using two bioprinting methods, embedded versus air printing. Dopamine-modified methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA-Dopa) and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) are used as the main bioink components, enabling fabrication of scaffolds with enhanced adhesion and crosslinking properties. Results demonstrate that dopamine modification improved adhesive properties of the HAMA-Dopa/GelMA constructs under various loading conditions, while maintaining their structural fidelity, stability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. While directly printing onto the adherend yields superior adhesive strength, embedded printing followed by transfer to the target tissue demonstrates greater potential for translational applications. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of bioprinted ATESs as off-the-shelf medical devices for diverse biomedical applications.

Comparison of treatment strategies for neonates with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.

OBJECTIVE: Neonates with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia (TOF/PA) but no major aorta-pulmonary collaterals are dependent on the arterial duct for pulmonary blood flow and require early intervention, either by primary (PR) or staged repair (SR) with initial palliation (IP) followed by complete repair (CR). The optimal approach has not been established. METHODS: Neonates with TOF/PA who underwent PR or SR were retrospectively reviewed from the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative. Outcomes were compared between PR and SR (IP + CR) strategies. Propensity scoring was used to adjust for baseline differences. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included complications, length of stay, cardiopulmonary bypass and anesthesia times, reintervention (RI), and pulmonary artery (PA) growth. RESULTS: Of 282 neonates, 106 underwent PR and 176 underwent SR (IP: 144 surgical, 32 transcatheter). Patients who underwent SR were more likely to have DiGeorge syndrome and greater rates of mechanical ventilation before the initial intervention. Mortality was not significantly different. Duration of mechanical ventilation, inotrope use, and complication rates were similar. Cumulative length of stay, cardiopulmonary bypass, and anesthesia times favored PR (P ≤ .001). Early RI was more common in patients who underwent SR (rate ratio, 1.42; P = .003) but was similar after CR (P = .837). Conduit size at the time of CR was larger with SR. Right PA growth was greater with PR. CONCLUSIONS: In neonates with TOF/PA, SR is more common in greater-risk patients. Accounting for this, SR and PR strategies have similar mortality. Perioperative morbidities, RI, and right PA growth generally favor PR, whereas SR allows for larger initial conduit implantation.

3D bioprinting of nanoparticle-laden hydrogel scaffolds with enhanced antibacterial and imaging properties.

Biomaterial-associated microbial contaminations in biologically conducive three-dimensional (3D) tissue-engineered constructs have significantly limited the clinical applications of scaffold systems. To prevent such infections, antimicrobial biomaterials are rapidly evolving. Yet, the use of such materials in bioprinting-based approaches of scaffold fabrication has not been examined. This study introduces a new generation of bacteriostatic gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based bioinks, incorporated with varying doses of antibacterial superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The SPION-laden GelMA scaffolds showed significant resistance against the Staphylococcus aureus growth, while providing a contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. We simulated the bacterial contamination of cellular 3D GelMA scaffolds in vitro and demonstrated the significant effect of functionalized scaffolds in inhibiting bacterial growth, while maintaining cell viability and growth. Together, these results present a new promising class of functionalized bioinks to 3D bioprint tissue-engineered scaffold with markedly enhanced properties for the use in a variety of in vitro and clinical applications.

Transcatheter Recanalization of Atretic Pulmonary Veins in Infants and Children.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein stenosis is a progressive disease associated with a high rate of mortality in children. If left untreated, myofibroblastic proliferation can lead to pulmonary vein atresia (PVA). In our experience, transcatheter recanalization has emerged as a favorable interventional option. We sought to determine the acute success rate of recanalization of atretic pulmonary veins and mid-term outcomes of individual veins after recanalization. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with PVA at our institution between 2008 and 2020 diagnosed by either catheterization or cardiac computed tomography. All veins with successful recanalization were reviewed and procedural success rate and patency rate were noted. Competing risk analysis was performed to demonstrate outcomes of individual atretic veins longitudinally. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2020, our institution diagnosed and treated 131 patients with pulmonary vein stenosis. Of these, 61 patients developed atresia of at least one pulmonary vein. In total, there were 97 atretic pulmonary veins within this group. Successful recanalization was accomplished in 47/97 (48.5%) atretic veins. No atretic pulmonary veins were successfully recanalized before 2012. The majority of veins were recanalized between 2017 and 2020-39/56 (70%). The most common intervention after recanalization was drug-eluting stent placement. At 2-year follow-up 42.6% of recanalized veins (20.6% of all atretic veins) remained patent with a median of 4 reinterventions per person. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter recanalization of PVA can result in successful reestablishment of flow to affected pulmonary veins in many cases. Drug-eluting stent implantation was the most common intervention performed immediately post-recanalization. Vein patency was maintained in 42.6% of patients at 2-year follow-up from recanalization with appropriate surveillance and reintervention. Overall, only a small portion of atretic pulmonary veins underwent successful recanalization with maintained vessel patency at follow-up. Irrespective of successful recanalization, there was no detectable survival difference between the more recently treated PVA cohort and non-PVA cohort.

Retrograde Pulmonary Vein Recanalization Using Transcatheter Electrosurgery.

Transcatheter electrosurgery is a wire-based technique used to traverse or cut tissue within blood-filled spaces using alternating current delivered by guidewires or catheters. The use of transcatheter electrosurgical techniques in the pediatric population has been limited. We are reporting the first case of retrograde pulmonary vein recanalization using transcatheter electrosurgery. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Tissue engineered drug delivery vehicles: Methods to monitor and regulate the release behavior.

Tissue engineering is a rapidly evolving, multidisciplinary field that aims at generating or regenerating 3D functional tissues for in vitro disease modeling and drug screening applications or for in vivo therapies. A variety of advanced biological and engineering methods are increasingly being used to further enhance and customize the functionality of tissue engineered scaffolds. To this end, tunable drug delivery and release mechanisms are incorporated into tissue engineering modalities to promote different therapeutic processes, thus, addressing challenges faced in the clinical applications. In this review, we elaborate the mechanisms and recent developments in different drug delivery vehicles, including the quantum dots, nano/micro particles, and molecular agents. Different loading strategies to incorporate the therapeutic reagents into the scaffolding structures are explored. Further, we discuss the main mechanisms to tune and monitor/quantify the release kinetics of embedded drugs from engineered scaffolds. We also survey the current trend of drug delivery using stimuli driven biopolymer scaffolds to enable precise spatiotemporal control of the release behavior. Recent advancements, challenges facing current scaffold-based drug delivery approaches, and areas of future research are discussed.

Reintervention and Survival After Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) replacement (TPVR) has become the standard therapy for postoperative pulmonary outflow tract dysfunction in patients with a prosthetic conduit/valve, but there is limited information about risk factors for death or reintervention after this procedure. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate mid- and long-term outcomes after TPVR in a large multicenter cohort. METHODS: International registry focused on time-related outcomes after TPVR. RESULTS: Investigators submitted data for 2,476 patients who underwent TPVR and were followed up for 8,475 patient-years. A total of 95 patients died after TPVR, most commonly from heart failure (n = 24). The cumulative incidence of death was 8.9% (95% CI: 6.9%-11.5%) 8 years after TPVR. On multivariable analysis, age at TPVR (HR: 1.04 per year; 95% CI: 1.03-1.06 per year; P < 0.001), a prosthetic valve in other positions (HR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.7; P = 0.014), and an existing transvenous pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (HR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.4; P = 0.004) were associated with death. A total of 258 patients underwent TPV reintervention. At 8 years, the cumulative incidence of any TPV reintervention was 25.1% (95% CI: 21.8%-28.5%) and of surgical TPV reintervention was 14.4% (95% CI: 11.9%-17.2%). Risk factors for surgical reintervention included age (0.95 per year [95% CI: 0.93-0.97 per year]; P < 0.001), prior endocarditis (2.5 [95% CI: 1.4-4.3]; P = 0.001), TPVR into a stented bioprosthetic valve (1.7 [95% CI: 1.2-2.5]; P = 0.007), and postimplant gradient (1.4 per 10 mm Hg [95% CI: 1.2-1.7 per 10 mm Hg]: P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the conclusion that survival and freedom from reintervention or surgery after TPVR are generally comparable to outcomes of surgical conduit/valve replacement across a wide age range.

Comparison of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Stent and Blalock-Taussig Shunt as Palliation for Neonates with Sole Source Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Blood Flow: Results from the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting is an accepted method for securing pulmonary blood flow in cyanotic neonates. In neonates with pulmonary atresia and single source ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow (SSPBF), PDA stenting remains controversial. We sought to evaluate outcomes in neonates with SSPBF, comparing PDA stenting and surgical Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS). Neonates with SSPBF who underwent PDA stenting or BTS at the four centers of the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative from January 2008 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Reintervention on the BTS or PDA stent prior to planned surgical repair served as the primary endpoint. Additional analyses of peri-procedural complications, interventions, and pulmonary artery growth were performed. A propensity score was utilized to adjust for differences in factors. Thirty-five patients with PDA stents and 156 patients with BTS were included. The cohorts had similar baseline characteristics, procedural complications, and mortality. Interstage reintervention rates were higher in the PDA stent cohort (48.6% vs. 15.4%, p < 0.001).

Selective Valve Removal for Melody Valve Endocarditis: Practice Variations in a Multicenter Experience.

Guidelines for management of Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) infective endocarditis (IE) are lacking. We aimed to identify factors associated with surgical valve removal versus antimicrobial therapy in Melody TPV IE. Multicenter retrospective analysis of all patients receiving Melody TPV from 10/2010 to 3/2019 was performed to identify cases of IE. Surgical explants versus non-surgical cases were compared. Of the 663 Melody TPV implants, there were 66 cases of IE in 59 patients (59/663, 8.8%). 39/66 (59%) were treated with IV antimicrobials and 27/66(41%) underwent valve explantation. 26/59 patients (44%) were treated medically without explantation or recurrence with average follow-up time of 3.5 years (range:1-9). 32% of Streptococcus cases, 53% of MSSA, and all MRSA cases were explanted. 2 of the 4 deaths had MSSA. CART analysis demonstrated two important parameters associated with explantation: a peak echo gradient ≥ 47 mmHg at IE diagnosis(OR 10.6, p < 0.001) and a peak echo gradient increase of > 24 mmHg compared to baseline (OR 6.7, p = 0.01). Rates of explantation varied by institution (27 to 64%). In our multicenter experience, 44% of patients with Melody IE were successfully medically treated without valve explantation or recurrence. The degree of valve stenosis at time of IE diagnosis was strongly associated with explantation. Rates of explantation varied significantly among the institutions.

Factors Influencing Reintervention Following Ductal Artery Stent Implantation for Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Blood Flow: Results From the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: Stenting of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is an established palliative option for infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow. Following initial palliation, reintervention on the PDA stent is common, but risk factors have not been characterized. METHODS: Infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow palliated with PDA stent between 2008 and 2015 were reviewed within the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative. Rates and risk factors for reintervention were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 105 infants who underwent successful PDA stenting, 41 patients (39%) underwent a total of 53 reinterventions on the PDA stent, with all but one occurring within 6 months of the initial intervention. Stent redilation constituted the majority of reintervention (n=35; 66%) followed by additional stent placement (n=11; 21%) and surgical shunt placement (n=7; 13%). The majority of reintervention was nonurgent, and there were no deaths during the reintervention procedure. All but one reintervention occurred within 6 months of the initial procedure. On univariate analysis, risk factors for reintervention included anticipated single-ventricle physiology, lack of prior balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty, use of drug-eluting stent, and increased ductal tortuosity. CONCLUSIONS: In infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow palliated with PDA stent implantation, reintervention is common, can be performed safely, and is associated with both anatomic/procedural factors and anticipated final physiology.

A 3D Bioprinted In Vitro Model of Pulmonary Artery Atresia to Evaluate Endothelial Cell Response to Microenvironment.

Vascular atresia are often treated via transcatheter recanalization or surgical vascular anastomosis due to congenital malformations or coronary occlusions. The cellular response to vascular anastomosis or recanalization is, however, largely unknown and current techniques rely on restoration rather than optimization of flow into the atretic arteries. An improved understanding of cellular response post anastomosis may result in reduced restenosis. Here, an in vitro platform is used to model anastomosis in pulmonary arteries (PAs) and for procedural planning to reduce vascular restenosis. Bifurcated PAs are bioprinted within 3D hydrogel constructs to simulate a reestablished intervascular connection. The PA models are seeded with human endothelial cells and perfused at physiological flow rate to form endothelium. Particle image velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics modeling show close agreement in quantifying flow velocity and wall shear stress within the bioprinted arteries. These data are used to identify regions with greatest levels of shear stress alterations, prone to stenosis. Vascular geometry and flow hemodynamics significantly affect endothelial cell viability, proliferation, alignment, microcapillary formation, and metabolic bioprofiles. These integrated in vitro-in silico methods establish a unique platform to study complex cardiovascular diseases and can lead to direct clinical improvements in surgical planning for diseases of disturbed flow.

Multicenter Study of Endocarditis After Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Endocarditis has emerged as one of the most impactful adverse events after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR), but there is limited information about risk factors for and outcomes of this complication. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for and outcomes of endocarditis in a large multicenter cohort. METHODS: The authors established an international registry focused on characterizing endocarditis after TPVR, including the incidence, risk factors, characteristics, and outcomes. RESULTS: Investigators submitted data for 2,476 patients who underwent TPVR between July 2005 and March 2020 and were followed for 8,475 patient-years. In total, 182 patients were diagnosed with endocarditis a median of 2.7 years after TPVR, for a cumulative incidence of 9.5% (95% CI: 7.9%-11.1%) at 5 years and 16.9% (95% CI: 14.2%-19.8%) at 8 years (accounting for competing risks: death, heart transplant, and explant) and an annualized incidence of 2.2 per 100 patient-years. Staphylococcus aureus and Viridans group Streptococcus species together accounted for 56% of cases. Multivariable analysis confirmed that younger age, a previous history of endocarditis, and a higher residual gradient were risk factors for endocarditis, but transcatheter pulmonary valve type was not. Overall, right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reintervention was less often to treat endocarditis than for other reasons, but valve explant was more often caused by endocarditis. Endocarditis was severe in 44% of patients, and 12 patients (6.6%) died, nearly all of whom were infected with Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of endocarditis in this multicenter registry was constant over time and consistent with prior smaller studies. The findings of this study, along with ongoing efforts to understand and mitigate risk, will be critical to improve the lifetime management of patients with heart disease involving the RVOT. Although endocarditis can be a serious adverse outcome, TPVR remains an important tool in the management of RVOT dysfunction.

Racial and ethnic disparities in coronary, vascular, structural, and congenital heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States. However, percutaneous interventional cardiovascular therapies are often underutilized in Blacks, Hispanics, and women and may contribute to excess morbidity and mortality in these vulnerable populations. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is committed to reducing racial, ethnic, and sex-based treatment disparities in interventional cardiology patients. Accordingly, each of the SCAI Clinical Interest Councils (coronary, peripheral, structural, and congenital heart disease [CHD]) participated in the development of this whitepaper addressing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in underserved populations. The councils were charged with summarizing the available data on prevalence, treatment, and outcomes and elucidating potential reasons for any disparities. Given the huge changes in racial and ethnic composition by age in the United States (Figure 1), it was difficult to determine disparities in rates of diagnosis and we expected to find some racial differences in prevalence of disease. For example, since the average age of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is 80 years, one may expect 80% of TAVR patients to be non-Hispanic White. Conversely, only 50% of congenital heart interventions would be expected to be performed in non-Hispanic Whites. Finally, we identified opportunities for SCAI to advance clinical care and equity for our patients, regardless of sex, ethnicity, or race.