Stabilization of pericardial tissue by dye-mediated photooxidation

Bovine pericardial tissue was stabilized through a dyemediated photooxidation reaction. Shrink temperature analysis of the stabilized tissue indicated a material with similar properties to untreated pericardial tissue and unlike identical tissue treated with glutaraldehyde. Photooxidized tissue was resistant to extraction when compared with untreated tissue or control tissue treated in the absence of light or dye. Photooxidized tissue was also resistant to enzymatic digestion by pepsin and to chemical digestion by cyanogen bromide (CNBr). In contrast, untreated or control treated tissues were readily digested by these reagents. Reduction of photooxidized tissue with β‐mercaptoethanol prior to CNBr digestion partially restored susceptibility of the tissue to CNBr digestion, indicating the photooxidation of methionine residues. Soluble collagen derived from bovine pericardium was used as a model compound for the photooxidation reaction. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis indicated the photooxidative conversion of collagen into higher molecular weight aggregates consistent with intermolecular crosslink formation. Photooxidized tissue was stable to in vivo degradation when compared with control tissue. Results presented here indicate a crosslinked pericardial tissue produced by dye‐mediated photooxidation possessing properties of chemical stability, enzymatic stability, in vivo stability, and biomechanical integrity suitable for use as a biomaterial. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.