Cardiovascular tissue engineering using functional marine biomaterials

This chapter deals with the challenges of marine biomaterials for cardiovascular apphcations. First, it deals with structural and safety requirements inherent to their function second, it describes the current options for human use. 

Marine sources of collagen are then described with special attention to availability and possible contamination. 

Finally, tuna cornea is described in detail as a source of pure collagen with peculiar antigenic characteristics that make it especially resistant to calcification. 

All biomaterials share a set of core characteristics that are instrumental to their application as they determine the interactions between graft and host  

Biomaterials, by definition, should possess an inherently low toxic potential, unless their function is to express a specific toxic activity in the site of implantation. This safety requirement is linked to the operative life of the biomaterial, which determines the release probability of toxins from the tissue. 

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Cardiovascular tissue engineering using functional marine biomaterials... 

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