Electrochemical assessment of tissue scaffold degradation.

Degradation of a commercially available collagen-glycosaminoglycan dermal equivalent material accelerated by exposure to gamma radiation followed by storage at elevated temperatures or exposure to enzymes, i.e. collagenase significantly increases its permeability to a small molecule probe, potassium ferrocyanide. The time dependent diffusion of the molecular probe through the dermal equivalent material was monitored via changes in the oxidation peak current of cyclic voltammograms. Experimentally such measurements can be made using a simple diffusion cell with the membrane positioned well away from the electrodes or in a specially designed Rank cell where the sample is in direct contact with the working electrode. Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages.