Introduction:

The human amnion membrane is now increasingly used in Guided Tissue Regeneration(GTR). These placental allografts have excellent biologic properties. There is limited information regarding their mechanical properties as compared to other collagen membranes used in GTR. The aim of this study was to test and compare the mechanical properties of human amnion membrane with commercially available bovine collagen.

Materials and methods:

After measurement of average thickness, three strips of 5×1cm were cut from both amnion and bovine collagen membranes. Mechanical testing was done in a universal testing machine. Test speed was 1mm/min with a load cell of 100N. Tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break were calculated. A suture retention test was also carried out using 3x1 cm size strips. Groups were compared through the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results:

Average thickness of amnion membrane was 0.46mm and thickness of bovine collagen membrane was 0.37mm.Tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break of amnion membrane were 0.156MPa, 0.645MPa and 17mm; and that of bovine collagen membrane were 2.94MPa, 7.42MPa and 11.00mm, respectively (p = 0.05). Maximum load which can be applied during suturing for amnion membrane was 0.104N and for bovine collagen membrane was 2.07N (p = 0.037).

Conclusion:

There is no statistically significant difference in terms of tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break between human amnion and bovine collagen membranes.(p=0.05)Membranes can only be considered different on the maximum load which can be applied during suturing.(p=0.037) (AU)