# BIOCHEMISTRY OF ACL ALLOGRAFTS--STERILIZATION EFFECTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 1989 · $172,032

## Abstract

This grant evaluates how gamma irradiation affects the biomechanics of
frozen goat bone-patellar tendon-bone allografts (PTBs) used to replace the
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).  With growing concern that sterilly-
procured allografts could transmit infectious diseases such as AIDS, tissue
sterilization methods such as gamma irradiation have recently been
advocated.  Preliminary studies in our laboratory indicate that 2 Mrads of
gamma irradiation does not significantly reduce the initial or inherent
material properties of frozen goat PTB specimens.  However, no study has
determined whether this level of irradiations alter graft biomechanics
after implantation.  Two studies will be preformed to examine this
question.

Study 1 will be devoted to finding a single set of reproducible initial
conditions for installing a PTB.  Our goal is to restore the in vitro
anterior-posterior translations of the intact knee.  To do this we will
develop methods to control the graft tension and flexion angle at surgery
as well as the attachment site location and bone tunnel orientations of the
graft ends.  We do not seek the optimum set of conditions but only one
reproducible set.

Study 2 is designed to test the hypothesis that 6 months after surgery,
there are no significant differences in structural mechanical or material
properties between frozen and 2 Mrad irradiated frozen allografts.  Paired
grafts from donor animals will be either frozen or frozen and irradiated.
The pair will be installed using phased surgeries.  The design will block
for time-order effects, potential right vs left and animal-to-animal
variabilities.  Power analyses will ensure adequate sample size to detect
statistical differences due to the treatment variable if they exist.
Tissues will be mechanically evaluated at six months after when bone
healing is completed and the rate of return in mechanical properties has
slowed.  The results will indicate whether a commonly used irradiation
method is detrimental to the mechanical integrity of an anterior cruciate
ligament replacement.  The study will also be the basis for examining
biological changes associated with this treatment method.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158742
- **Project number:** 1R01AR038719-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DZ4YCZ3QSPR5
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID L BUTLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $172,032
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1989-05-20 → 1992-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158742

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158742, BIOCHEMISTRY OF ACL ALLOGRAFTS--STERILIZATION EFFECTS (1R01AR038719-01A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158742. Licensed CC0.

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