Supercritical Carbon Dioxide–Based Sterilization of Decellularized Heart Valves

摘要

class="kwd-title">Key Words: decellularized, decontamination, heart valve, tensile properties, tissue engineering class="kwd-title">Abbreviations and Acronyms: B&B, Brown and Brenn gram stain, DSC, differential scanning calorimetry, ECM, extracellular matrix, EOW, electrolyzed water, ETPA, 96% ethanol with 2% peracetic acid, GAG, glycosaminoglycans, H&E, hematoxylin and eosin, LHP, 6% liquid hydrogen peroxide, PAA, peracetic acid, PAS, Periodic acid-Schiff, PBS, phosphate-buffered saline, scCO2, supercritical carbon dioxide, SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate, SEM, scanning electron microscopy, UTS, ultimate tensile strength class="head no_bottom_margin" id="abs0010title">SummarySterilization of grafts is essential. Supercritical carbon dioxide, electrolyzed water, gamma radiation, ethanol-peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide techniques were compared for impact on sterility and mechanical integrity of porcine decellularized aortic valves. Ethanol-peracetic acid– and supercritical carbon dioxide–treated valves were found to be sterile using histology, microbe culture, and electron microscopy assays. The cusp tensile properties of supercritical carbon dioxide–treated valves were higher compared with valves treated with other techniques. Superior sterility and integrity was found in the decellularized valves treated with supercritical carbon dioxide sterilization. This sterilization technique may hold promise for other decellularized soft tissues.