Enhancement of the Strength and Stability of Ultraviolet-Irradiated Acellular Dermal Matrix by Adding Glucose

In theory, Ultraviolet (UV)-generated free radicals can expedite Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) crosslinking with glucose via the formation of reactive, linear glucose molecules. The aim of this study is to maintain strength and stability of UV-irradiated ADM without the introduction of cytotoxic chemical crosslinkers. The strength and stability changes of ADM by UV-irradiated with glucose (GLUC) were investigated under various conditions. ADM strength and stability were determined by tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and swelling ratio. After exposure to UV-irradiation, ADM containing glucose revealed different mechanical properties compare to ADM without glucose, greater resistance to enzymatic degradation, and higher heatdenatured breaking loads. DSC explained that glucose-incorporated ADM sterilized by UVirradiation decreased peak width (Tpeak-Ts) compared to one another. On the other hand, Area (J/g) and Ts increased glucose-incorporated ADM. The exposure of ADM to UV caused significant increase in hydration, but a significant decrease in the swelling ratio compared with the nonirradiated ADM. These data strongly suggests that free radical-dependent, glucose-derived crosslinks provide enhanced strength and enzyme resistance in glucose-incorporated, UV-exposed ADM.