title: Evaluation of collagen cross-linking techniques for the stabilization of tissue matrices.
abstract: The use of glutaraldehyde (GTA) for cross-linking biological tissue implants has a number of undesirable side effects, including cytotoxicity and induction of calcification. In an attempt to find an improved cross-linking agent for tissue implants, we have evaluated a number of cross-linking procedures shown previously to be effective with pure collagen or collagenous substrates, including GTA, succinic anhydride, cyanamide, 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl)carbodi-imide, dimethyl suberimidate, ascorbate-copper, glucose-lysine and acyl azide treatments. Apart from GTA, only acyl azide treatment significantly cross-linked human dermis, the degree of cross-linking being better than that seen after treatment of dermis with 1 mM GTA. Acyl azide treatment of thicker vascular tissue (porcine aorta) also resulted in a significantly cross-linked tissue. Preliminary cytotoxicity studies suggested that acyl azide treatment was not toxic, and, therefore, coupled with its cross-linking ability, this treatment is worthy of further investigation and may prove to be an alternative to GTA for the treatment of bioprostheses.
authors.affiliation: Yorkshire Regional Tissue Bank, Pinderfields General Hospital, U.K.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kearney
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000737:chemistry*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003094:Collagen; D017364:Collagenases