The effects of different preservation processes on the total protein and growth factor content in a new biological product developed from human amniotic membrane

Cell Tissue Bank. 2012 Jun;13(2):353-61. doi: 10.1007/s10561-011-9261-5. Epub 2011 Jun 18.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to quantify the total protein and growth factors content in a tissue-suspension obtained from processed human amniotic membrane (hAM). hAM was collected, frozen, freeze dried, powdered and sterilized by γ-irradiation. At each step of the process, samples were characterized for the total protein amounts by a Bradford protein assay and for the growth factor concentrations by ELISA test of the tissue suspensions. Frozen-hAM samples show higher release of total proteins and specific growth factors in the tissue suspension in comparison with freeze-dried hAM. We observed that even if the protein extraction is hindered once the tissue is dried, the powdering process allows a greater release in the tissue suspension of total proteins and growth factors after tissue re-solubilization in comparison with only the freeze-drying process (+91 ± 13% for EGF, +16 ± 4% for HGF, +11 ± 5% for FGF, +16 ± 9% for TGF-β1), and a greater release of EGF (85 ± 10%) in comparison with only the freezing process, because proteins become much readily solubilized in the solution. According with these results, we describe a protocol to obtain a new sterile biological product from hAM tissue, with well-known effects of thermal, mechanical and physical processes on the total protein and grow factors contents.

MeSH terms

  • Amnion / metabolism*
  • Biological Products / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Preservation, Biological / methods*
  • Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins