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Electron beam sterilization does not have a detrimental effect on the ability of extracellular matrix scaffolds to support in vivo ligament healing
Author(s) -
Proffen Benedikt L.,
Perrone Gabriel S.,
Fleming Braden C.,
Sieker Jakob T.,
Kramer Joshua,
Hawes Michael L.,
Badger Gary J.,
Murray Martha M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.22855
Subject(s) - scaffold , extracellular matrix , ligament , in vivo , biomedical engineering , anterior cruciate ligament , sterilization (economics) , fibrous joint , materials science , tissue engineering , chemistry , surgery , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , monetary economics , economics , foreign exchange market , foreign exchange
Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds have been used to enhance anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair in large animal models. To translate this technology to clinical care, identifying a method which effectively sterilizes the material without significantly impairing in vivo function is desirable. Sixteen Yorkshire pigs underwent ACL transection and were randomly assigned to bridge‐enhanced ACL repair—primary suture repair of the ACL with addition of autologous blood soaked ECM scaffold—with either (i) an aseptically processed ECM scaffold, or (ii) an electron beam irradiated ECM scaffold. Primary outcome measures included sterility of the scaffold and biomechanical properties of the scaffold itself and the repaired ligament at 8 weeks after surgery. Scaffolds treated with 15 kGy electron beam irradiation had no bacterial or fungal growth noted, while aseptically processed scaffolds had bacterial growth in all tested samples. The mean biomechanical properties of the scaffold and healing ligament were lower in the electron beam group; however, differences were not statistically significant. Electron beam irradiation was able to effectively sterilize the scaffolds. In addition, this technique had only a minimal impact on the in vivo function of the scaffolds when used for ligament healing in the porcine model. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:1015–1023, 2015.