Methods for inhibiting stenosis, obstruction, or calcification of a stented heart valve or bioprosthesis

A method for inhibiting stenosis, obstruction and/or calcification of a mechanical heart valve following implantation in a vessel having a wall, said method comprising:

• providing a mechanical heart valve having a sewing ring covered by a Gortex material;
• coating said mechanical heart valve, said Gortex material, or both with a coating composition comprising one or more therapeutic agents;
• implanting said mechanical heart valve into said vessel in the site of a diseased natural valve site;
• eluting said coating composition from said mechanical heart valve, said Gortex material or both;
• inhibiting stenosis, obstruction and/or calcification of the mechanical heart valve by preventing the attachment of stem cells to the mechanical heart valve or Gortex material, said stem cells circulating external and proximate to the mechanical heart valve by activating nitric oxide production (i) in the circulating stem cells, (ii) in an endothelial cell lining covering the mechanical heart valve and/or Gortex material, (iii) or both.

A method for inhibiting stenosis, obstruction and/or calcification of a heart valve following implantation in a vessel having a wall, said method comprising:

• providing an unstented surgical heart valve having a sewing ring comprising, said surgical heart valve including tissue having one or more cusps, said surgical heart valve for replacement of a natural diseased valve;
• treating said surgical heart valve with a tissue fixative;
• coating said surgical heart valve, one or more cusps and/or sewing ring with a coating composition comprising one or more therapeutic agents;
• implanting said surgical heart valve into said vessel in a diseased natural valve site;
• eluting said coating composition from said sewing ring, one or more cusps, or both;
• inhibiting steno sis, obstruction and/or calcification of the surgical heart valve by preventing the attachment of stem cells to the surgical heart valve, said stem cells circulating external and proximate to the surgical heart valve by activating nitric oxide production (i) in the circulating stem cells, (ii) in an endothelial cell lining covering the surgical heart valve, (iii) or both.