Morphological and biomechanical evaluation of human tendon tissue sterilized by ionizing radiation

The increasing interest of development in less invasive surgical techniques, such as reconstructions of ligament tendon, has led to the increase of the research concerning the use of Allografts sterilized by ionizing radiation. Processing by ionizing radiation is a safe method and leaves no residues, being used as final sterilization. The present study was to evaluate the effects of proposed application of ionizing radiation, produced by ⁶⁰Co source in human tendon pre-samples processed multi organs donors obtained through collaboration with tissue banks. The pre-processing of samples given by chemical methods and preserved by freezing at -80 °C. The doses applied in radiation processing were 12.5, 15.0 and 25.0 kGy, each with your corresponding non-irradiated control. The samples were evaluated by means of histological and biomechanical testing, with the purpose of analyzing possible structural and morphological changes. The results showed that the ultrasound processing and hydrogen peroxide caused changes in the morphology of the tissues, which caused damage to the structure, making your samples. In the samples processed by alcohol and antibiotics were not observed damage on the network of collagen by the application of radiation. The results of biomechanical tests showed significant differences between the methods used. The samples processed with alcohol and antibiotics showed negligible loss in modulus of elasticity compared with the samples processed by ultrasound and hydrogen peroxide which kept the viscoelastic property, however in 12.5 kGy dose was observed an increase in elastic modulus and viscoelasticity. Based on the analysis we can conclude that the method of processing with alcohol, antibiotics and irradiation showed less damage, both in biomechanics and sterilization, in the samples irradiated with 15.0 and 25.0 kGy, showing results similar to the non-irradiated control. (author)