Abstract: A valve prosthesis to be deployed within a native heart valve at a native heart valve annulus. The valve prosthesis including an expandable frame and a plurality of spaced anchors. The expandable frame includes a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The expandable frame collapses radially for delivery and expands radially upon deployment to an expanded configuration. The plurality of spaced anchors extend from the distal end of the frame towards the proximal end, each anchor formed with a free end, and each anchor being expandable from a collapsed anchor configuration to an expanded anchor configuration, wherein each of the anchors includes a foot angle of from 0 to 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of preparing protein scaffolds that can include the step of crosslinking protein fibers in the vapor phase of a natural aldehyde, such as cinnamaldehyde or vanillin or a solution thereof. Also described herein are protein scaffolds that can be prepared by a method that can include the step of crosslinking protein fibers in the vapor phase of a natural aldehyde solution, such as cinnamaldehyde or vanillin or a solution thereof.