Millions of people worldwide who are affected by heart disease and other ailments - along with undergraduate and graduate students who have said YES to unique, hands-on research opportunities - could benefit from cutting-edge engineering research at The University of Akron (UA), thanks to funding from the American Heart Association.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has awarded Dr. Hossein Ravanbakhsh, a UA assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, a $200,000 research grant to develop next-generation heart valve implants.

Ravanbakhsh's research represents a shift toward smarter, less invasive and more patient-centered cardiovascular implants designed to not just replace damaged tissue, but to integrate into the body.

The AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award will provide two years of support for students, providing hands-on training in biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing and translational research in UA's BioEngineering for Translational Applications Laboratory (BETA Lab).

Ravanbakhsh directs the BETA Lab, which is focused on functional biomaterials and biofabrication technologies for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications. The project enables UA students to work at the intersection of engineering, materials science and medicine, preparing them for careers in academia, industry and healthcare innovation.

Ravanbakhsh was also the recent recipient of a $150,746 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate innovative additive manufacturing methods for stimuli-responsive biomedical implants.

Meeting an urgent need for less-invasive implants

Researchers will create heart valve implants that can be delivered through small incisions and adapt to the body after implantation, potentially improving outcomes for patients with heart valve disease. This is crucial for those dealing with the challenges of heart disease, the occurrence of which is growing as the worldwide population ages.

Ravanbakhsh said funding to bolster the research arrives at a critical moment. While current valve replacement options save lives, many require invasive open-heart surgery or have limitations in durability and performance, especially for younger or high-risk patients.

"There is an urgent need for safer, less invasive, and longer-lasting solutions," he said. "Advances in 3D bioprinting and smart, shape-memory biomaterials are opening new possibilities for cardiovascular implants. By combining these technologies, the project has the potential to redefine how heart valve implants are designed, manufactured, and delivered, moving the field toward patient-specific, minimally invasive therapies. The AHA's support underscores the promise of this approach and its potential to make a real difference in cardiovascular care."

The research also strengthens partnerships between the engineering and cardiovascular science communities as UA advances biomedical innovation.

Crucially, the research will contribute to improved outcomes for patients who may not be good candidates for more invasive procedures.

"This project represents a shift toward smarter, less invasive, and more patient-centered cardiovascular implants, solutions designed not just to replace damaged tissue, but to work with the body," Ravanbakhsh said.

Biomaterials that transform in the body

Ravanbakhsh's NSF project, titled "EAGER: Additive Manufacturing of Stimuli-Responsive Implants," will explore fundamental manufacturing principles for creating polymer-based implants that can be delivered through small incisions and then adapt to the body once exposed to physiological temperature.

The research aims to advance technologies that support minimally invasive procedures. Compared with traditional open surgeries, minimally invasive procedures offer faster patient recovery and lower health care costs, but they require implants that can be introduced in a compact form and reliably change shape inside the body.

"Developing materials and manufacturing methods that allow implants to undergo predictable shape transformation after delivery could open new possibilities for minimally invasive treatments," Ravanbakhsh said.

The project will generate insights into the behavior of shape-memory polymers during high-resolution 3D printing, provide design guidelines for shape-morphing constructs and establish foundational principles for future deployable biomedical devices.

UA is uniquely equipped for this research. The BETA Lab houses polymer synthesis and cell culture facilities, fluorescent microscopes, multiple resin-based 3D bioprinters and rheological characterization equipment - all essential for developing and testing advanced biomaterials.

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