Stabilized human amniotic membrane for enhanced sustainability and biocompatibility

The human amniotic membrane (AM), a collagen-based extracellular matrix, is routinely used for wound coverage and nerve or tendon protection. However, its limited mechanical properties and rapid biodegradability restrict its applicability. In this work, we have used several strategies to improvise the biocompatibility, me-chanical and antimicrobial properties of AM. We decellularized AM using sodium deoxycholate and Triton-X 100 and crosslinked it with glutaraldehyde (GA). The crosslinked tissues were detoxified with citric acid, glycine, glutamic acid and sodium borohydride and subsequently treated with ethanol to improve anti-calcification properties. The cross-linking efficiency was determined by uniaxial tensile testing, enzymatic degradation and quantification of free amine groups. The detoxification treatment drastically reduced free aldehydes and cyto-toxicity. The overall processing significantly enhanced the biomechanical and non-antigenic properties of AM and also reduced its biodegradation and bacterial adhesion ability. Thus, we demonstrate that an acellular-crosslinked-detoxified AM would be an attractive scaffold for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Automated summary

In this study, different strategies were employed to enhance the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and antimicrobial ability of the human amniotic membrane. The use of decellularization, crosslinking, and detoxification treatments significantly improved its biomechanical properties, reduced biodegradation, and bacterial adhesion, making it suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.