PolyKARD

Hybrid polymers, new materials for future cardiac therapies

The pericard surrounds the heart and is made of an elastic mechanically extremely stable material. Due to its unique properties, the body's own or processed pericard of animal origin has long served as a reinforcing and sealing material in cardiac surgery, e.g. for closing septal defects or in the construction of commercially available biological heart valves. In long-term use, calcifications and hardening of the material can be observed. This explains, for example, the limited durability of biological heart valve prostheses.

Further information on the project and the shares of the individual project partners can be found under: https://promatleben.de/de/projekte/projekte-alphabetisch/polykard/