Full-Field Assessment of Geometry and Collagenous Architecture of
Porcine Valve Leaflets via Laser Micrometry and Quantitative Polarized
Light Imaging
Abstract
Despite the frequent failure of aortic valves and pediatric usage of
pulmonary valves as a replacement, comparative studies on their
full-field collagenous architecture and macroscale geometries are
limited. We applied laser micrometry and quantitative polarized light
imaging (QPLI), a novel technique for assessing collagen fiber
organization, to porcine aortic (n = 8) and pulmonary (n = 8) valve
leaflets to non-destructively compare thickness and anisotropy. We
confirmed (1) light intensity and sample thickness are inversely
related; and (2) aortic valve leaflets are thicker with decreased fiber
organization when unloaded. To demonstrate the ability of QPLI to
capture dynamic collagen fiber alignment, we imaged leaflets during
equibiaxial loading. There was an increase in the aortic valve leaflet’s
degree of alignment throughout loading, whereas the pulmonary valve
leaflet exhibited relatively unchanged alignment. Understanding the
full-field organization of a leaflet’s heterogeneous ECM and how it is
altered by pathology can inform therapy development.