Evaluation of different sterilization methods for decellularized kidney tissue

Abstract The main goal of this study was to assess the effect of different sterilization treatment for sterilization of decellularized kidney tissue. Rabbit kidneys were decellularized by the perfusion-based method using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100. Then, decellularized kidney slices were prepared and sterilized by an antibiotic cocktail, PAA (0.5 %, 1% and 1.5 %), 5KG γ-irradiation and 320–480 nm UV-irradiation. Histological evaluations, DNA quantification assay, MTT assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical test and bacterial and fungal culture tests were performed to determine the quality of decellularization and sterilization processes. The kidney slices were seeded by adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) to assess the cell adhesion capability after treatment. The results of the current study indicated that PAA 0.5 % was the most efficient method to completely decontaminate rabbit decellularized kidney tissue while preserving the mechanical properties and main components of the matrix which are necessary for cell-matrix interaction and cell adhesion. The 5KG γ-irradiation was determined to be the most destructive sterilization method, with reduced the mechanical strengths as well as altered microstructure of the kidney matrix and no cell adhesion. In addition, UV-irradiation is not able to sterile the decellularized tissues. Therefore PAA 0.5 % sterilization method can be a powerful means for sterilization of biological scaffolds.