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Carbodiimide cross-linking counteracts the detrimental effects of gamma irradiation on the physical properties of collagen-hyaluronan sponges

  • Biomaterials Synthesis and Characterization
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Abstract

Collagen-based scaffolds are extensively used in biomaterials and tissue engineering applications. These scaffolds have shown great biocompatibility and versatility, but their relatively low mechanical properties may limit use in orthopaedic load-bearing applications. Moreover, terminal sterilization with gamma irradiation, as is commonly performed with commercial devices, presents concerns over structural integrity and enzymatic stability. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that EDC/NHS cross-linking (10 mM/5 mM) can protect collagen-hyaluronan sponges from the damaging effects of gamma irradiation. Specifically, we evaluated compressive and tensile mechanical properties, enzymatic stability, porosity and pore size, and swelling ratio. Ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus exhibited increases (168.5 and 245.8%, respectively) following irradiation, and exhibited over tenfold increases (1049.2 and 1270.6%, respectively) following cross-linking. Irradiation affected pore size (38.4% decrease), but cross-linking prior to irradiation resulted in only a 17.8% decrease. Cross-linking also showed an offsetting effect on the equilibrium modulus, enzymatic stability, and swelling ratio of sponges. These results suggest that carbodiimide cross-linking of collagen-hyaluronan sponges can mitigate the structural damage typically experienced during gamma irradiation, warranting their use in tissue engineering applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences for their assistance in completing this study. They also thank Sukanya Murali for performing the SEM processing and imaging. This study was funded, in part, by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery discretionary fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, MEB 424, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    Jay M. Patel, Ryan C. Jackson, Greta L. Schneider, Salim A. Ghodbane & Michael G. Dunn

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers–The State University of New Jersey, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Jay M. Patel, Salim A. Ghodbane & Michael G. Dunn

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  1. Jay M. Patel
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Correspondence to Jay M. Patel or Michael G. Dunn.

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J.M.P. serves as a consultant for NovoPedics, Inc. M.G.D serves as interim secretary and treasurer and owns stock inNovoPedics Inc. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Patel, J.M., Jackson, R.C., Schneider, G.L. et al. Carbodiimide cross-linking counteracts the detrimental effects of gamma irradiation on the physical properties of collagen-hyaluronan sponges. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 29, 75 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6056-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6056-2

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