Alterations of human acellular tissue matrix by gamma irradiation: Histology, biomechanical property, stability, in vitro cell repopulation, and remodeling

Abstract

AlloDerm, a processed acellular human tissue matrix, is used in a number of surgical applications for tissue repair and regeneration. In the present work, AlloDerm serves as a model system for studying gamma radiation-induced changes in tissue structure and stability as well as the effect of such changes on the cell-matrix interactions, including cell repopulation and matrix remodeling. AlloDerm tissue matrix was treated with 2-30 kGy gamma irradiation at room temperature. Gamma irradiation reduced the swelling of tissue matrix upon rehydration and caused significant structural modifications, including collagen condensation and hole formation in collagen fibres. The tensile strength of AlloDerm increased at low gamma dose but decreased with increasing gamma dosage. The elasticity of irradiated AlloDerm was reduced significantly. Calorimetric study showed that gamma irradiation destabilized the tissue matrix, resulting in greater susceptibility to proteolytic enzyme degradation. Although gamma irradiation did not affect in vitro proliferation of fibroblast cells, it promoted tissue degradation upon cell repopulation and influenced synthesis and deposition of new collagen.

The influence of various rehydration protocols on biomechanical properties of different acellular tissue matrices

“…This result further supports our findings of decreased biomechanical properties in hydrated tissue samples compared to dry samples. The substantial decrease in the thermal stability of the collagen matrices induced by hydration is consistent with previous studies [33][34][35]. In the present study, a significant difference in denaturation temperatures could be observed between MD and DM when compared to the MG matrix.…”

Reprint of: Extracellular matrix as a biological scaffold material: Structure and function

“…Recently, it was shown that UBM-ECM had decreased uniaxial and biaxial mechanical properties after exposure to ethylene oxide (750 mg h À1 ), gamma irradiation (20 kGy) and electron beam irradiation (22 kGy) [82]. Several studies have also investigated the effects of a wide range of gamma irradiation exposure on dermis ECM [83,84]. At low dosages of gamma irradiation (<15 kGy), the strength and modulus of the scaffold increased, but the mechanical properties decreased above 15 kGy in a dose-dependent manner [83].…”

“…Several studies have also investigated the effects of a wide range of gamma irradiation exposure on dermis ECM [83,84]. At low dosages of gamma irradiation (<15 kGy), the strength and modulus of the scaffold increased, but the mechanical properties decreased above 15 kGy in a dose-dependent manner [83]. These changes appear to be due to an increase in collagen cross-linking due to the low dose of irradiation that levels off after approximately 5 kGy, along with collagen chain scission that continues to increase with the irradiation dose [84].…”

Chemical Decellularization Methods and Its Effects on Extracellular Matrix

“…The amount of DNA fragments should be less than 200 bp, and nuclear materials should also stay undetected in 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) or hematoxylin-eosin staining because DNA directly causes an immune response in the host body (1,106,107). DNA density can also be identified by using fluorometric stainings such as Hoechst (108)(109)(110).…”