title: Mechanical properties of septal cartilage homografts.
abstract: The compressive mechanical properties of untreated and chemically and physically treated nasal septum homografts were determined. Mechanical properties of control, saline-, thimerosal (Merthiolate)- and Alcide-treated specimens were similar. At high strains, the stiffness of treated cartilage ranged from 12.8 to 22.5 MPa and was unaffected by storage time. In comparison, irradiated and freeze-dried nasal septum exhibited stiffnesses of 35 and 37.5 MPa, respectively, after approximately 1 month of storage. These values of stiffness were significantly different from controls at a 0.95 confidence level. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that Alcide and Merthiolate treatment did not alter the compressive mechanical properties of cartilage and that a combination of these treatments may adequately sterilize and preserve nasal septum homografts.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Center, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Glasgold
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Glasgold
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000637:transplantation; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013849:Thimerosal; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013849:Thimerosal; D012965:Sodium Chloride