Biophysical characterization of ovine forestomach extracellular matrix biomaterials

Ovine forestomach matrix (OFM) is a native and functional decellularized extracellular matrix biomaterial that supports cell adhesion and proliferation and is remodeled during the course of tissue regeneration. Small angle X‐ray scattering demonstrated that OFM retains a native collagen architecture (d spacing = 63.5 ± 0.2 nm, orientation index = 20°). The biophysical properties of OFM were further defined using ball‐burst, uniaxial and suture retention testing, as well as a quantification of aqueous permeability. OFM biomaterial was relatively strong (yield stress = 10.15 ± 1.81 MPa) and elastic (modulus = 0.044 ± 0.009 GPa). Lamination was used to generate new OFM‐based biomaterials with a range of biophysical properties. The resultant multi‐ply OFM biomaterials had suitable biophysical characteristics for clinical applications where the grafted biomaterial is under load. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.