The effect of gamma-ray and ethylene oxide sterilization on collagen-based wound-repair materials

The effects of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 Mrad gamma-irradiation and ethylene oxide sterilization on collagen-coated vicryl mesh, on collagen film and vicryl mesh were investigated. No cytotoxic effects were observed towards either L929 cells or human fibroblasts with any of the treatments, even at the highest doses of irradiation. Although the rate of biodegradation and tissue reaction towards the test materials appeared to be relatively unaffected by ethylene oxide, the rate of breakdown in the lumbar muscles of laboratory rats was considerably increased by irradiation. Dose-dependent irradiation damage to the vicryl mesh was confirmed in vitro using viscometry and by an increase in the rate of hydrolysis in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37°C. Tensiometric studies on irradiated collagen films showed a dose-dependent reduction in both the break load and elongation before breaking. A small reduction in the break load and stretch to breaking was also observed following treatment with ethylene oxide. The findings presented favour ethylene oxide as a method of sterilization of both the composite membrane and its individual components. However, gamma-irradiation produced no toxic effects or adverse tissue reaction under the conditions described, and is more convenient to use. Hence, provided that the efficacy of the membrane would not be compromised by the higher rate of degradation, it could also be considered for sterilization of the material.