Comparison of physical, mechanical and biological properties of a porcine urinary bladder acellular matrix collagen membrane with six other collagen membranes of animal origin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The porcine acellular urinary bladder matrix (AUBM) is a three-dimensional scaffold rich in collagens type I, III, IV, and VI that could be used for guided bone regeneration (GBR). The objective of this study was to compare the physical, mechanical and biological properties of a AUBM with six other collagen membranes of porcine, equine and bovine origin. METHODS: Seventy membranes were included (n = 10 per group). The properties of AUBM membrane were compared with the other animal collagen membranes available: porcine pericardium (PP), equine pericardium (EP), bovine pericaridium (BP), porcine peritoneum (PPE), equine Achilles tendon (EAT), bovine Achilles tendon (BAT). We analysed physical properties (surface morphology, hydrophilic property, degradation ratio and thermal stability), mechanical properties (tensile strength and dry and wet elongation), and biological properties (cell viability, quantification of type I collagen and osteopontin, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition). RESULTS: AUBM membranes showed a surface morphology (in smooth and rough surfaces) very similar to those of PP, EP, EAT, and BAT. The most hydrophilic membrane was PPE. The AUBM membranes showed a low degradation ratio and thermal stability similar to the other membranes. AUBM membranes had a tensile strength (dry and wet) and elongation (dry) similar to the other membranes. Their elongation was much higher than the rest when wet. AUBM membrane showed good biological properties. CONCLUSIONS: AUBM membrane showed physical and mechanical properties similar to the other six membranes. However, upon wetting they were the membranes with the highest elongation capacity and showed similar properties to PPE membranes in promoting osteogenesis. AUBM could be an ideal collagen source for the manufacture of membranes for GBR, but further clinical studies are needed.