Impact of storage time prior to cryopreservation on mechanical properties of aortic homografts

The objective of this study was to analyze the mechanical properties of homograft tissue at different time spans in the procurement process. Ten aortic homografts were collected at the Tissue Bank in Lund. Twelve samples were obtained from each homograft, cryopreserved in groups of three after 2 –4 days, 7–9 days, 28–30 days, and 60–62 days in antibiotic decontamination. Mechanical testing was performed with uniaxial tensile tests, calculating elastic modulus, yield stress and energy at yield stress. Two randomly selected samples were assessed with light microscopy. Procurement gene rated a total of 120 samples, with 30 samples in each time group. Elastic modulus and yield stress was significantly higher in samples cryopreserved after 2–4 days (2.7 MPa (2.5-5.0) and 0.78 MPa (0.68-1.0)) compared to 7–9 days (2.2 MPa (2.0-2.6) and 0.53 MPa (0.46–0.69)),p = 0.008 and 0.011 respectively. Light microscopy did not show any difference in collagen and elastin at different time spans. There was a significant decrease in elastic modulus and yield stress after 7 days of decontamination at 4 °C compared to 2–4 days. This could indicate some deteriora tion of elastin and collagen at longer decontamination intervals. Clinical significance of these findings remains to be clarified.

Source: Cell and Tissue Banking - February 27, 2023 Category: Stem Cells Source Type: research