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

This study evaluated the influence of different rehydration media and time periods on biomechanical and structural properties of different acellular collagen matrices (ACMs).

Specimens of three ACMs (mucoderm®, Mucograft®, Dynamatrix®) were rehydrated in saline solution (SS) or human blood for different time periods (5-60 min). ACMs under dry condition served as controls. Biomechanical properties of the ACMs after different rehydration periods were determined by means of tensile testing. ACMs' properties were further characterized using Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

At dry conditions, mucoderm® presented the highest tensile strength (TS) and Dynamatrix® showed the maximum elastic modulus (EM; p each ≤0.036). Rehydration in SS and blood resulted in significant TS changes of mucoderm® (p each ≤0.05). Concering EM, mucograft® showed significantly decreased values after rehydration in SS compared to Dynamatrix® and mucoderm® after 10 min (p each ≤0.024). mucoderm® hydrated for 5 min in blood displayed nearly double TS and a significantly increased EM after 60 min (p = 0.043) compared to rehydration in SS. TS and EM values of Dynamatrix® and Mucograft® were not altered following rehydration in blood versus SS (p each ≥0.053). FTIR analysis confirmed the recovery of the graft protein backbone with increased rehydration in all samples. DSC measurements revealed that tissue hydration decreased thermal stability of the investigated ACMs.

Our findings demonstrated that the rehydration protocol affects the biomechanical properties of ACMs.

Clinicians should be aware of altered handling and mechanical properties of ACMs following different rehydration protocols.