In vitro surface characterization of a biological patch fixed with a naturally occurring crosslinking agent

The study was designed to characterize the surface properties (including wa ter contact angle, surface tension, protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and cellular compatibility) of a biological patch fixed with genipin, a nat urally occurring crosslinking agent. Fresh and glutaraldehyde-fixed counter parts were used as controls. It was found that both glutaraldehyde and geni pin are effective crosslinking agents for biological tissue fixation. Fixat ion of biological tissue with glutaraldehyde or genipin significantly incre ased its hydrophilicity and surface tension and reduced its mol ratio of ad sorbed fibrinogen to adsorbed albumin as well as the amount of adhered plat elet. There were no significant differences in hydrophilicity, surface tens ion, the mole ratio of adsorbed fibrinogen to adsorbed albumin, and the amo unt of platelet adhesion between the glutaraldehyde- and genipin-fixed tiss ues. However, the cellular compatibilities of fresh and the genipin-fixed t issues were significantly superior to the glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.