IN VITRO EVALUATION OF BUBALINE ACELLULAR SMALL INTESTINAL MATRIX

In this study, a decellularization process was employed to remove the cellular components from small intestine of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using 2% ionic biological detergent. The acellular matrix then was cross linked with 0.6% glutaraldehyde (GA), 1% 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE) and 1% 1- ethyl- 3 - (3 - dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). The physical properties of cross linked samples were compared, in vitro, to those of the acellular counterparts on the basis of gross observations, degradation tests, free protein contents, free amino group contents, fixation index, free hydroxyproline contents determination, moisture percent and SDS-PAGE analysis. GA treated tissue showed highest resistance to nonenzymatic, enzymatic degradation and significant reduction (P<0.05) of free protein contents, free amino groups contents and moisture percentage. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that GA treated acellular small intestinal matrix expressed highest cross-linking, followed by EDC, and BDDGE treated tissues.