Comparison of three techniques for decellularization of porcine bone-tendon-bone grafts

ABSTRACT

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are frequent afflictions related to sports or physical trauma. Autograft reconstruction strategies cause secondary injury to the patient. One alternative, supported by clinical evidence, is porcine xenografts. For clinical use, xenografts must be conditioned to avoid immune rejection. The most widely accepted procedure is tissue decellularization. We analyzed three decellularization strategies: the application of the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sonication, and freezing and thawing cycles. The treated tissues were evaluated histologically using H&E, Masson’s trichrome, Verhoeff-van Gieson staining, and DAPI for fluorescent staining of nuclei. Finally, collagen fiber preservation was evaluated by quantifying this protein by colorimetry. The most efficient decellularization techniques were sonication and SDS. Collagen fibers were preserved in all experimental conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Allografts
• collagen
• decellularization
• elastin
• porcine xenografts
• tendon

Acknowledgments

We thank Sergio Lozano-Rodríguez, M.D., for his help in editing the text and Luis I. Botello Soto for technical assistance in the PAS staining method. J.A.S.G. and D.H.M.P. thank CONACyT for its support through scholarships.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.