title: Effect of freeze-drying on the mechanical, physical and morphological properties of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium: evaluation of freeze-dried treated bovine pericardium properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biomaterials have been widely used in the field of regenerative medicine. Bovine pericardium tissue has been successfully used as a bioprosthetic material in manufacturing heart valves, but studies concerning the tissue are ongoing in order to improve its storage, preservation and transportation. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of bovine pericardium tissue chemically treated after the freeze-drying process. These characteristics are essential to evaluate the changes or damage to the tissue during the process.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mechanical properties of the tissue were analyzed by three different methods due to its anisotropic characteristics. The physical properties were analyzed by a colorimetric method, while the morphological properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The freeze-dried bovine pericardium showed no significant change in its mechanical properties. There was no significant change in the elasticity of the tissue (p>0.05) and no color change. In addition, SEM analysis showed that the freeze-dried samples did not suffer structural collapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium tissue showed no significant change in its properties after the freeze-drying process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences College, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. caborg@usp.br
authors.forename: Camila F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Borgognoni
authors.forename: Marina J S
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maizato
authors.forename: Adolfo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Leirner
authors.forename: Bronislaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polakiewicz
authors.forename: Marisa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Beppu
authors.forename: Olga Z
authors.initials: OZ
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Ronaldo N M
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pitombo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000592:standards; D002417:Cattle; D003124:Colorimetry; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010496:Pericardium / Q000187:drug effects*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D005976:Glutaral