title: Storage conditions do not have detrimental effect on allograft collagen or scaffold performance.
abstract: Musculoskeletal allografts are a valuable alternative to autograft tissue in orthopaedic surgeries. However, the effects of the allografts' storage history on the collagen and subsequent allograft scaffold properties are unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that freezing and refrigeration of allografts for 1 week would alter the biologic performance and mechanical properties of the allograft collagen. Allograft collagen was characterized by SDS-PAGE migration pattern, amino acid profile and measured denaturation. Scaffolds made from allograft collagen were evaluated for fibroblast proliferation, platelet activation and scaffold retraction. Collagen gelation kinetics (elastic and inelastic moduli and the viscous-elastic transition point) were also evaluated. Fibroblast proliferation, platelet activation and scaffold retraction results showed only minor, though statistically significant, differences between the storage groups. In addition, there were no significant differences in rheological properties or collagen biochemistry. In conclusion, this study suggests that freezing or refrigeration for 1 week does not appear to have any detrimental effect on the mechanical properties and biologic performance of the collagen within allografts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Boston, 300 Longwood Ave, Enders 1022, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Eduardo.Abreu@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D051381:Rats; D012212:Rheology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003094:Collagen