Alterations of human acellular tissue matrix by gamma irradiation: histology, biomechanical property, stability, in vitro cell repopulation, and remodeling.

AlloDerm, a processed acellular human tissue matrix, is used in a number of surgical applications for tissue repair and regeneration. In the present work, AlloDerm serves as a model system for studying gamma radiation-induced changes in tissue structure and stability as well as the effect of such changes on the cell-matrix interactions, including cell repopulation and matrix remodeling. AlloDerm tissue matrix was treated with 2-30 kGy gamma irradiation at room temperature. Gamma irradiation reduced the swelling of tissue matrix upon rehydration and caused significant structural modifications, including collagen condensation and hole formation in collagen fibres. The tensile strength of AlloDerm increased at low gamma dose but decreased with increasing gamma dosage. The elasticity of irradiated AlloDerm was reduced significantly. Calorimetric study showed that gamma irradiation destabilized the tissue matrix, resulting in greater susceptibility to proteolytic enzyme degradation. Although gamma irradiation did not affect in vitro proliferation of fibroblast cells, it promoted tissue degradation upon cell repopulation and influenced synthesis and deposition of new collagen.