title: Tendon allograft sterilized by peracetic acid/ethanol combined with gamma irradiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research and clinical applications have demonstrated that the effects of tendon allografts are comparable to those of autografts when reconstructing injured tendons or ligaments, but allograft safety remains problematic. Sterilisation could eliminate or decrease the possibility of disease transmission, but current methods seldom achieve satisfactory sterilisation without affecting the mechanical properties of the tendon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Peracetic acid-ethanol in combination with low-dose gamma irradiation (PE-R) would inactivate potential deleterious microorganisms without affecting mechanical and biocompatible properties of tendon allograft.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory design.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV, PPV, PRV and BVDV inactivation was evaluated. After verifying viral inactivation, the treated tendon allografts were characterised by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, and the cytocompatibility was assessed with an MTT assay and by subcutaneous implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Effective and efficient inactivation of HIV, PPV, PRV and BVDV was observed. Histological structure and ultrastructure were unchanged in the treated tendon allograft, which also exhibited comparable biomechanical properties and good biocompatibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results confirmed our hypothesis and demonstrated that the PE-R tendon allograft has significant potential as an alternative to ligament/tendon reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tendon allografts have been extensively used in ligament reconstruction and tendon repair. However, current sterilisation methods have various shortcomings, so PE-R has been proposed. This study suggests that PE-R tendon allograft has great potential as an alternative for ligament/tendon reconstruction.
  Sterilisation has been a great concern for tendon allografts. However, most sterilisation methods cannot inactivate viruses and bacteria without impairing the mechanical properties of the tendon allograft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peracetic acid/ethanol with gamma irradiation can effectively inactivate viruses and bacteria. Meanwhile, tendon allografts sterilised by this method maintain their physiological tendon structure, biomechanical integrity and good compatibility.
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Tonghe, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China, remembermz13@163.com.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Naili
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Youchen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xusheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baoming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Baoxing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D010463:Peracetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D010463:Peracetic Acid