title: Sterilization using electrolyzed water highly retains the biological properties in tissue-engineered porcine liver scaffold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of sterilization with peracetic acid (PAA) and ethanol on the biological activity of porcine liver scaffolds and to develop a new technique for sterilization using slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Decellularization of liver slices was performed using 0.1% sodium-dodecyl-sulfate, then evaluated by histological and polymerase chain reaction analyses. Decellularized slices were treated with either PAA or ethanol or SAEW, and then DNA content was quantified. We determined sterilization efficiency by culturing scaffolds in culture medium and on blood agar. We next analyzed the glycosaminoglycan and collagen contents of the scaffolds. Finally, we tested the cytotoxicity of the scaffolds as well as the effects of sterilization on host cell attachment and proliferation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete cell and antigenic epitopes removal emphasized the decellularization efficiency. PAA and SAEW treatments achieved the highest efficiency of sterilization compared to that of the ethanol treated scaffolds, and were able to remove a considerable fraction of DNA from decellularized livers. The retained glycosaminoglycan content decreased in all treatments in the following order: SAEW, ethanol, and PAA. Ethanol caused a significant loss in collagen content compared to the other groups. A cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that all scaffolds were nontoxic. SAEW-treated scaffolds supported cell attachment and proliferation at a significantly higher rate than other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that SAEW is highly efficient for sterilizing scaffolds and allowed the scaffolds to retain their bioactivity in addition to its high efficiency for cell remnant removal.
authors: Stem Cell Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon - Korea and College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon - Korea.
authors: Kamal H
authors: KH
authors: Hussein
authors: Kyung M
authors: KM
authors: Park
authors: Pankaj K
authors: PK
authors: Teotia
authors: Seok H
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Se R
authors: SR
authors: Yang
authors: Sung M
authors: SM
authors: Park
authors: Cheol
authors: C
authors: Ahn
authors: Heung M
authors: HM
authors: Woo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D013242:Sterilization; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water