Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Acellular matrix ligament removes the cellular components within the ligament tissue and reduce the immunogenicity through a variety of acellular ways. Simultaneously, the damage to scaffold structure is mild in the process of decellularization, and it retains the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix.
OBJECTIVE: To verify the biocompatibility and superiority of rabbit patellar tendon acellular scaffold after frozen and lyophilized processing.
METHODS: Patellar ligaments were treated with 1% sodium deoxycholate for preparation of acellular ligaments with or without lyophilization.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No residual nuclear component was detected in all ligaments. Collagen structure was maintained. No significant differences in elastic modulus and ultimate tensile stress were found between non-lyophilized acellular scaffolds and lyophilized ones. The in vitro cytotoxicity test showed the cells grew well in all groups with or without extracts from lyophilized acellular scaffold. No significant difference was found between the control group and the experiment group. Toxicity symptoms were not obvious. Pyrogen detection experiment showed that no pyrogen was found in the lyophilized acellular scaffold extracts. Percutaneous stimulation test was negative as primary stimulation index was 0. In vivo implantation experiment showed that lyophilized acellular ligament scaffold showed the characteristics of little immunogenicity and light inflammation. Lyophilized acellular ligament scaffold treated with 1% DCA method not only maintains the mechanical characteristics of the non-lyophilized ones, but also has good biological compatibility. Because of its preparation, disinfection, packaging and preservation was easy and convenient, the lyophilized acellular ligament scaffold will be an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering ligament.