title: Mechanical qualification of collagen membranes used in dentistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work is the qualification of commercially available collagen membranes in a comparative manner. The natural origin of collagen makes standardization difficult. Nevertheless, through dimensional and mechanical measures it is possible to mechanically qualify collagen membranes, and compare them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three commercially available collagen membranes used in Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) and in Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) techniques, namely Bio-Gide, Collprotect and Jason, were chosen for the comparison. Quasi-static (tensile tests) and time-dependent (stress relaxation test) mechanical tests together with a functional test (tear test) were done to determine the responses of collagen membranes under different loading conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tested membranes exhibited different behaviours, different deformability values and thickness, Jason being the thinnest and Bio-Gide the thickest. Similar differences were also observed in terms of surface density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though clinical observations were not within the aim of this study, our findings indicate that a better understanding of the correlation between mechanical properties and thickness could lead to a more rational design and use of these membranes in the face of specific clinical cases.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale George Eastman di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quadrini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellisario
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Odontostomatologiche e Maxillo Facciali, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Ambiente e Connessa Prevenzione Primaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santarsiero
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003764:Dental Materials; D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003764:Dental Materials; D003094:Collagen